Frank O'dell Ward

Mr. Frank O’dell Ward, 83, of Ward Drive, Winston, Georgia, passed away Thursday, August 28, 2008 at his residence. He was born October 6, 1924 and raised in Douglas County, Georgia, the son of the late Mr. William Richard Ward and the late Mrs. Nancy Viola Stovall Ward. Mr. Ward was a veteran of the United States Army having served as a paratrooper during World War II for the 101st Airborne Division and served overseas in Germany where he earned the Combat Infantry Badge. After an honorable discharge, he returned to Douglas County and opened a grocery and gas station known as the Rock Store in Winston. In 1948, he went to work for the Georgia Department of Transportation. He was the resident engineer and was in charge of many local projects. His first major project was the paving of State Route 5 from Bill Arp to Douglasville. He supervised practically all of the I-20 West construction in Fulton, Cobb, Douglas and Carroll Counties and some of the original Interstate I-285 from I-85 south, northwest to I-20. He retired from the Georgia DOT in 1982. After retirement, he was very happy ‘just doing his own thing on his own land’. He was an avid gardener and an expert at fixing anything. His vegetables were always in demand and his advice was respected by everyone. He was an active and long time member of Ephesus Baptist Church in Winston where he served in many capacities and joyously gave many years of service to his home church. His church and his family were always his top priorities. In addition to his parents, Mr. Ward was preceded in death by his brothers, William Dixon Ward, Thomas W. Ward, George Selman Ward and Earl T. Ward. He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Mrs. Reba Nell Layton Ward; his daughter, Kathy N. Ward and her husband, James S. Tucker; sons and daughter-in-law, Richard O. Ward, Jerry L. Ward and Jean H. Ward, all of Winston; his grandchildren, Kristy New Herlihy and her husband, Matthew Herlihy, Kimberly D. New, Clinton O. Ward, Kelley S. Ward, Cody Sparks, Jennifer Ward Voelkel and her husband, Jon Voelkel, Jonathan K. Ward and Brittani Johnson; five great grandchildren, Annie, Will, Finn and Lainey Herlihy and MaKayla Schwab; and several nieces and nephews also survive. Funeral Services will be conducted Saturday, August 30, 2008 at 11:00 AM from Ephesus Baptist Church in Winston, Georgia with Rev. Matthew Isennock officiating. Musical selections will be rendered by Frank Gillespie. Serving as pallbearers will be Bernon “Pete” Ward, John Ward, Ronnie Ward, Roy Ward, James Hamrick and Johnny Echols. Mr. Ward will lie in state at the church from 10:00 AM until the funeral hour. Interment will follow at Ephesus Church Cemetery. The family will receive friends at Jones-Wynn Funeral Home in Douglasville on Friday, August 29, 2008 from 6:00PM until 8:00PM. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made In Memory of Mr. Frank O’dell Ward to the Ephesus Baptist Church Building Fund, PO Box 280, Winston, Georgia 30187. Messages of condolences to the family may be sent to www.jones-wynn.com. Jones-Wynn Funeral Home of Douglasville is serving the Ward Family.