David Carl Ward

David Carl Ward, 67 of Jonesboro, passed away on August 9, 2018, at the Flo and Phil Jones Hospice House. He was born 2 months premature in Pine Bluff Arkansas on Easter Sunday, March 25 ^th , 1951, the very day that his maternal grandfather died.  He was a 1969 graduate of Watson Chapel High School.  A resident of Jonesboro Arkansas since 1972,  he was employed at Arkansas State University, Information Technology Services for 28 years, retiring in 2006.  He graduated from Arkansas State University with a BSE degree in Art Education in 1975 and an MA degree in Art in 1994 with an emphasis in figurative bronze sculpture. He also enjoyed fishing at Bear Creek Lake, hunting, playing guitar and singing, writing poetry, photography, gardening, and cooking. He is preceded in death by his mother, Mary Petrucelli-Ward and father, Todd Everett Ward and step-mother Helen Murray-Ward.

He is survived by his wife, Kathy Reno-Meyer-Ward of the home; ex-wife, Sharon Felts-Ward-Cooper; daughter, Allison Ward-Whitmire and son-in-law Nathan Whitmire, all of Jonesboro and son, Aaron Ward and daughter-in-law Lori Turner-Ward of Wynne, and step-children, Josh and Kristi Funderburg-Meyer of Hensley, Arkansas; brother, Dane Ward of Sherwood, Arkansas; sister, Barbara Ward-Erwin of Hensley, Arkansas; step-sister, Shirley Henry and step-brother, Jerry Murray, all of Traskwood, Arkansas; and step-brother John Murray of Dallas Texas. He also leaves seven beloved beautiful grandchildren, Mary-Emma, Larkin, and William Whitmire; Tristan and Sawyer Ward, McCurry and Ellis Meyer; “brother from another mother” James Rushing and his wife Brenda and their family from Pine Bluff.

David was an organ and tissue donor registered with Mid-America Transplant Services and wished for his ashes to be spread at his favorite fishing hole. Funeral services will be 4:00 PM, Monday, August 13, 2018 at Emerson Memorial Chapel with Jerry Parker officiating and Emerson Funeral Home in charge of arrangements. Burial will be private.  Visitation will be from 3:00 PM, Monday, until service time.   To sign an online guestbook, go to emersonfuneralhome.com. For lasting memorials, please consider St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, Tennessee, 38105.