CONWAY — Captain Christopher Robert Ward
of Conway passed away March 8, 2023. He was born February 24, 1938, to the late Christopher and Eleanor “Dolly” Ward.
He is preceded in death by his parents; his first wife of 25 years, Linda Betts Ward McCord; his second wife of over 20 years, Jewel D. Ward; his first daughter, age three months, Lori Ward; his brothers, Daniel and Mark Ward; sisters, Dolores Ward and Joan Thom.
Chris had always been a mischievous person. He was a class clown and always seemed to get into trouble. Some of his teachers passed him only because they told him they didn’t want to have him in class again. He was a smart kid but loved being a smart ass.
He was very adventurous and hitch hiked from Michigan to Florida and then on to Alaska where he worked in a salmon canning factory for a time.
He met Linda and soon a child was on the way and they got married. He realized he had to be a responsible person and decided to join the Air Force. The day before he was to show up, he had been hunting with a friend and got his rifle caught on something and almost shot off three toes. So after healing he was able to get in the Air Force where he started at the bottom. While in the Air Force he started taking college courses and worked his way up to an officer and retired after 23 years as a Captain. He then then continued his education and graduated from UCA with a Master’s degree and a CPA equivalent. He held a few small jobs after that and decided to just enjoy himself.
Chris was an avid sports fan and loved hunting and fishing. He loved traveling and had been stationed in California, Germany, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Alaska, New York, and finally Arkansas.
Chris had a witty sense of humor and always tried to make people laugh. Even in his last days, he was making witty comments hoping for a laugh.
He left behind a large family: sisters, Yvonne, Eleanor, Charlene and Kathleen; sons, Michael (Johnnie), children, Brandon and Rachelle and her three children, Randall and Jeffrey Ward; daughter, Teresa DeBolt (Ralph), grandchildren, Jayden (Farrah), Cailey (Fred), Haven and son Riley, Elana and Kaydee DeBolt; stepchildren, Jonathan (Amy) Barnhill, children, Jakob and Anna, Andrea Barnhill and sons, Dylann and Dalen.
Visitation will be held at Griffin Leggett Conway Funeral Home on Thursday, March 16, 2023, from 6-8 p.m. A graveside service with full military honors will be held at Arkansas State Veteran’s Cemetery on Friday, March 17 at 10 a.m. www.griffinleggettconway. com.