Ray J Ward

Ray J. Ward, 103, of Edgewood, Iowa, passed away on Monday, October 19, 2020, at the Edgewood Convalescent Home in Edgewood. He was born on June 3, 1917, in Macon County, Missouri, the son of Ray Collins and Ruth (Myers) Ward.  Ray attended and graduated from Pierceville Kansas High School in 1935.  Ray was a member of the Army Air Force from 1941 to 1945 during World War II as a Second Lieutenant. 

On July 3, 1943, Ray was united in marriage to Berdina Morris from Delhi, at Las Cruces, New Mexico.  After Ray was honorably discharged the couple farmed first for a few years near Dundee and then began farming in 1949 near Strawberry Point.  Also, for many years, Ray was the bookkeeper at Edgewood Oil and the clerk at the Edgewood Sale Barn. He was a faithful member of United Methodist Church in Strawberry Point.  In 2007 they moved to Manchester.  Ray and Berdina enjoyed many winters at Zapata, Texas, where Ray enjoyed fishing.  Ray loved spending time with his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. In Ray’s later years, he especially enjoyed playing cards and dominoes with his family.  He was the ultimate host, supplying his guests with their favorite treats

Survivors include his three children, Diane (Jon) Reed of Marion, Roger (Susan) Ward of Epworth, Donna (Dave) Johnson of LeRoy, Minnesota; seven grandchildren; two step grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; five step great-grandchildren; one great-great grandchild; one sister, Joan Owen from Hawaii; and nieces and nephews.

Ray was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Berdina in January, 2008; his son, Russell Ward in 2008; one brother, Robert Ward; and one sister Betty Riley Yager.

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