M/Sgt. (Ret.) Opal D. Ward
By: Terry McDaniel
Updated: July 30, 2012
M/Sgt. (Ret.) Opal D. Ward, age 87, passed away at his home, Friday, July 27, 2012 with his family at his bedside.
Funeral services will be held at 11AM, Monday, July 30th, 2012 from the Chapel of Ward Wilson Funeral Home with Reverends David Willis and John Sanders officiating. Burial, with full military honors, will follow in Gardens of Memory .
The family will receive friends at the funeral home chapel from 10:00 until 11:00 A. M., 1 hour prior to the service. Flowers will be accepted or memorials may be made to Highlands Park United Methodist Church 1619 South Park Ave., Dothan Al. 36301.
Mr. Wardwas born on February 17, 1925 in Brundidge, AL. He was the son of Roy and NannieBell Ward.
In 1944, at the age of 18, he was drafted into the U.S. Army. He served in the European Theater in WWII and saw conflict at the Battle of the Bulge. He also served in Japan, the Korean War, and three tours of duty in Europe. He was awarded numerous medals and citations including the Presidential Citation with 5 bronze stars and Good Conduct Medal with 6 knots.
Opal Ward married Maurene Mobley on September 15, 1951. They have been married for 60 years.
Mr. Ward retired from the Army in 1964 and settled with his family in Dothan. He worked for the next 16 years as an electrician with White's Plumbing and Electric. In his later years, he and his wife enjoyed traveling the US with the Coachman Campers Club.
He was preceded in death by his parents, his sister Peggy Richards and his beloved dog Micah.
He is survived by his wife Maurene Ward. Four children Donna Crozier and husband Alan of Ft. Gaines, GA, Debbie Harper, Dothan, Rex Ward and wife Julia, Headland, Cindy Byrd, Montgomery, AL., and 8 grandchildren and 7 great grandchildren
