of Conway, AR
December 17, 1930 - November 29, 2012
John Lewis Ward, 81, Bee Branch and Conway, died Thursday, November 29, 2012 of complications from lymphoma. He was born in Damascus, AR on December 17, 1930, one of eight children of the late Rev. Roy and Mamie Ward. He was a gifted musician, writer, and photographer, with a love of gardening, family, and the natural beauty of the land on which his retirement home sat in Van Buren County. His wife of fifty-five years, Betty Chandler Ward, his daughter, Jenifer Ward of Seattle, and his son and daughter-in-law, Barry and Kristin Ward of Little Rock, survive him. He was preceded in death by brothers Bobby Ward and Gary ''Butch'' Ward, and a sister, Marketa Evans. He will be missed by brothers Joe (Dena) and Bill (Emelene) Ward, sisters Loweta Turney and Judy Roach (Bill), numerous nieces and nephews, and countless friends and colleagues.
John Ward was Director of Public Relations for Winthrop Rockefeller from 1964 through 1971, and served as campaign manager for his successful reelection as governor in 1968. Earlier, Ward was a professional musician traveling on the road, and was a high school band director at Hampton, AR before going into journalism and newspaper work full time. Ward founded the Institute of Politics and Government in Arkansas, and was its chairman for several years. Later, he spent 12 years as Managing Editor of the Conway, AR daily newspaper, the Log Cabin Democrat. He wrote a political biography of Winthrop Rockefeller, published in 1978 by Louisiana State University Press.
With his brother, Bill, he founded Toad Suck Daze, a spring community wide celebration in Conway, and served as its first and continuing chair for several years before leaving Conway to join the faculty of the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville, where he taught journalism. He was a member of the board of the Winthrop Rockefeller Foundation and served as chair for four years. He became Director of Information Services for the University of Arkansas System until he was named Vice President for Public Affairs at the University of Central Arkansas in 1988. He served in that capacity for eight years. During those years at UCA, he taught journalism and was also president of the UCA Foundation. Ward was then invited to be campaign manager for Winthrop Paul Rockefeller in his quest for the office of Lieutenant Governor. After that successful campaign, Ward wrote another book about the elder Rockefeller this one about his philanthropy, entitled ''Winthrop Rockefeller, Philanthropist,'' published by the University of Arkansas Press in 2004. During that time, Ward joined the administrative staff of the University of Arkansas System, where he remained until January 2005, when he was named Director of Marketing and Public Relations for the Winthrop Rockefeller Center (now Winthrop Rockefeller Institute) atop Petit Jean Mountain. He served for many years as chairman of the Winthrop Rockefeller Distinguished Lectures Committee, and served on the committee until his death.
He also served as a director of the Oxford American, a literary magazine published at the University of Central Arkansas. He held the American Cancer Society's Special Citation for a series of articles he wrote about laryngectomies, the Chairman's Award for Outstanding Service from the Institute of Politics and Government, ''Man Of the Year'' from the Arkansas Press Association in 1981, the ''Distinguished Service Award'' from the Arkansas Press Association in 1982, and the ''Distinguished Service Award'' from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock in 1983. He was a charter member of the Arkansas chapter of Sigma Delta Chi, Society of Professional Journalists, and served as its president. The University of Arkansas at Little Rock named Ward Distinguished Alumnus for 2011. He graduated in 1968 with a Bachelor of Arts degree from Little Rock University (now the University of Arkansas at Little Rock).
A memorial service will be held at Central Baptist Church, 3333 Dave Ward Dr., Conway, AR at 10 AM on Monday, December 3, 2012.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial gifts be made to the John and Betty Ward Scholarship at the University of Central Arkansas (John and Betty Ward Scholarship, UCA Foundation, 201 Donaghey Ave., Box 4986, Conway, AR 72035).
The online guestbook may be signed by visiting www.rollerfuneralhomes.com
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30 Condolence(s)
Zeny Lycil Dela Torre
Monday, April 15, 2013
Godblessed your soul and you may rest in peace.....your a good person ......thankssss
Pat Valachovic Crocker
Thursday, January 3, 2013
My deepest sympathies to all the family. John was editor of the Log Cabin Democrat when I was the advertising manager, so while we occasionally clashed over my ads cluttering up the deathless prose of his news ‘hole’, it was a pleasure working with him. The creation of the community celebration of Toad Suck Daze is just one of his many accomplishments. Hate to write -30- for such a man...
(Note to staff: -30- is what newspapers used to signal the end of the story...)
Pat Valachovic Crocker
Thursday, January 3, 2013
My deepest sympathies to all the family. John was editor of the Log Cabin Democrat when I was the advertising manager, so while we occasionally clashed over my ads cluttering up the deathless prose of his news ‘hole’, it was a pleasure working with him. The creation of the community celebration of Toad Suck Daze is just one of his many accomplishments. Hate to write -30- for such a man...
(Note to staff: -30- is what newspapers used to signal the end of the story...)
Bea
Wednesday, December 5, 2012
So sorry for your loss
hensonjamesh@yahoo.com
Wednesday, December 5, 2012
I am sorry for your great loss, John was a great man and will be missed by all who knew him.
hensonjamesh@yahoo.com
Wednesday, December 5, 2012
I am sorry for your great loss, John was a great man and will be missed by all who knew him.
Harold J. Evans
Wednesday, December 5, 2012
With deepest sympathies to Betty and family. He will be greatly missed.
Ruth Thomason
Monday, December 3, 2012
Betty and Ward Family,
My deepest sympathy to all of you. John was a very special and kind man. I know all of you will miss him. When I would be over there working, he would tell me stories of his past and they were so interesting. He gave me a tape of the Ward Family CD and I will treasure it always. Praying for you all. Ruth
Kay Sims Tittle
Monday, December 3, 2012
Dear Ward family. I am so sorry about John. You are all in my thoughts and prayers.
Love Kay Sims Tittle
Coy and Sunshine Dunn
Monday, December 3, 2012
We are so sorry to learn of John's passing. He was our good neighbor and such a blessing. Our prayers are with you all.
Jeannie Beene
Monday, December 3, 2012
Betty and family - my condolences to all of you. Betty, i remember John from my time working with you in Student Affairs. i am sorry for your loss and especially at this time of year. Take care and treasure your memories.
Joann Kirby
Monday, December 3, 2012
Betty you are in my prayers for your loss. I have always said that John was the most down to earth person I knew in spite of all his accomplishments.
I now work three days a week at Roller-McNutt Funeral Home in Greenbrier, if I can be of help to you in any way please give me a call. God Bless you and your family.
Gail and Richard Massey/Renee and Mark Jelks
Sunday, December 2, 2012
You were loved by our family and will be truly missed. We enjoyed every family reunion that we attended.
Theodore Hutchcroft
Sunday, December 2, 2012
What a pleasure it has been to know and work with John Ward. His years with Gov. and Lt. Gov. Rockefeller led him to draft the plan for what became the Winthrop Rockefeller Institute. He gave me opportunities to work with him on starting that project on Petit Jean Mountain.
One of my very special memories is a late afternoon listening to the Betty and John duet, Betty on the piano and John on the saxophone.
My best wishes to Betty and to his children.
LaTrecia Raffety
Sunday, December 2, 2012
What a blessing to have known John for most of my life, and to have been considered a relative of his, if only through my sister and brother in law, Suzy and Bill. John was a breath of fresh air and a delight to converse with. Be at peace, John.
Don and Mary Mallory
Saturday, December 1, 2012
Sorry for your loss. Your family in our prayers.
Becky McCabe Runnels
Saturday, December 1, 2012
I had the pleasure of knowing Mr. Ward when I worked for the U of A System office. He was a true delight to know and work with. My deepest sympathies to his family.
Becky Higgins Shrum
Saturday, December 1, 2012
Dear Judy and family, please accept my deepest condolences at this time of loss in your family.
Ann Beene Gardner
Saturday, December 1, 2012
Dear Ward family,
I was prvileged to work with John at the LCD back in the 1980s and I deeply respected him as my editor, but also as my friend. What a blessing he was to us and how sorely he will be missed!
Ann Beene Gardner
Brenda Ball Tirrell
Saturday, December 1, 2012
How can one write words of tribute to John? There are no words. I can only say I am privileged to have known him. I will miss him. I offer my deepest sympathy to Betty and his family, all of you I love. John, a remarkable man. I will borrow and leave you with this poem:
To One Immortal
To think that one so vital
Could ever, ever be
Silent and unbreathing
Seems ridiculous to me.
Why, he was so gay, so honest
That sometimes even now,
I hear him laugh at ludicrous gods-
To whom lesser men bow.
So, if truth be everlasting
and
Honor cannot die,
Say not to me that he is dead,
Or else, you speak a lie!
Amy Holcombe Ball Johnston
Sincerely,
Brenda
John and Lulu Thompson
Saturday, December 1, 2012
Deepest sympathy to all the family.
Leo Treat
Saturday, December 1, 2012
Betty,
Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family during this difficult time.
May God bless you and yours.
Leo & Dean Treat
joyce motley miller
Friday, November 30, 2012
I want to express my sadness at the loss of John Ward. What an exceptional person he was and he will be remembered. After all, he and Bill were responsible for Toad Suck Daze. I know my Bill would have joined me in saying we love the Ward family and will miss John. Joyce
Curtis Granger
Friday, November 30, 2012
Betty,Jenifer,Barry and the entire Ward/Chandler family, I am so sorry for your loss. I pray God will give you the strength to sustain you during this time of beverement.. John was so blessed with incredible talents. . He was loved and will be missed by so many.
Curtis Granger
Aprille Hanson
Friday, November 30, 2012
Dear Betty and the rest of the Ward family,
I am shocked and saddened to hear of Mr. Ward's passing. I have always been grateful and I've never forgotten the John and Betty Ward journalism scholarship at UCA I received from you and your husband. It meant the world to me that you both saw promise in my journalism career enough to financially help with my education. If it were not for you and your husband's generosity, paying for college would have been very difficult. You and your family are in my prayers. I will never forget your gift or Mr. Ward's kindness.
Penny Hatfield
Friday, November 30, 2012
The angels are singing and there's a new member in the choir! What a wonderful influence, mentor and friend John was to so many. We are all better for knowing him.
Betty, you and the family, are in my thoughts and prayers.
Cindy Opitz Harris
Friday, November 30, 2012
Our thoughts and prayers to all the Wards. John was such a special person to my parents, John and Eleanor. Words cannot express what it meant to us for him to play his sax for her final farewell. I know that he was greeted above with open arms and now stands among "the Old Conway gang". May God bless you in this time.
Jeani Hamilton Johnson
Friday, November 30, 2012
Dear Ward family,
I was saddened to hear about the death of Mr. John. He, Frank Robins III, and Estel Jeffery took me under their wings when I was in high school and gave me my first job opportunity in journalism at the Log Cabin Democrat.
Mr. John was always so kind and considerate. I loved his smile and his laugh, and I still recall the many good times in the old newsroom.
I am still involved in journalism today teaching at Conway High for over 25 years. I owe a debt of gratitude to those three men for their faith in me. I learned so much not only about publishing a newspaper, but also about life.
My thoughts and prayers are with you all.
He was a great man.
With deepest sympathy,
Jeani Hamilton Johnson
Jeani Hamilton Johnson
Friday, November 30, 2012
Dear Ward family,
Janell Starkey
Friday, November 30, 2012
Dear Judy and Family,
I was sorry to hear of the passing of your brother.
I know you were such a close family, May God give you the strength to get through the next few days.
Only time will make the pain not as bad.
May Got bless you and yours. Love Janell Starkey &
family