Beech Tree News Network

Rev. Raymond T. Ward, 91, of Morgantown, Ky, formerly of Hardin County, ran the race, finished the course, and entered his eternal home with his Lord and Savior on Friday, May 6th, 2016 at Greenview Hospital in Bowling Green, Ky, surrounded by family and friends. He was born on August 28th, 1924 in the Eden community of Butler County, KY, to the late Dewey and Ermine Render Ward. Raymond was a 1944 graduate of Morgantown High School, a 1956 and 1972 graduate of Western Kentucky Univeristy, attended Campbellsville College and Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. More importantly, Raymond accepted the free gift of Salvation through God's grace at the age of 13. While a junior in high school, he surrendered to preach the Gospel, the highest Calling from God, that he took very seriously for the duration of his life. He was licensed to preach in 1943 and ordained into the ministry by Aberdeen Baptist Church in 1946. Raymond served as pastor in churches located in Butler, Mulenburg, Logan, Barren, Warren, Daviess, and Ohio Counties. His longest pastorate was in people of Rineyville, KY. While considered to be a pastor to all in the Rineyville and surrounding communities, Raymond served as pastor of Rineyville Baptist Church for 20 years from 1969-1989. In 2006, Rineyville Baptist honored him by naming him Pastor Emeritus, an honor he received with much gratitude and humility. He served in several capacities within the Kentucky Baptist Convention. As an extension of his ministry, Raymond served as a bus driver, teacher and substitue in the Hardin County School district. In addition, he was very community minded, serving with various organizations for the betterment of the community. Upon retriement from full time pastorate, Raymond served in 23 interim positions in churches throughout Kentucky and Severn Valley Association of Baptists. No position was too great or too small for him to serve his Lord with his time, talents, money and energy. His last interim position was completed on April 19th of this year, serving as the Director of Missions for the Blackford Breckenridge Baptist Association, a job that was very dear to him. In his lifetime of acheivements, he received honors too numerous to name, but of his most coveted recognitions, were: The C. Ford Duschner award for support of the KY Baptist Homes for Children, a 2015 inductee of the North Hardin Athletic Hall of Fame, and inducttee of the North Hardin Boys Basketball Hall of Fame, a Kentucky Colonel and through the honor of serving his Savior, of which most recognition was never publicized. He was
an avid supporter of North Hardin High School, having served as the Boy's Basketball team Chaplin for many years.

Raymond was preceeded in death and reunited in Heaven with the love of his life, Justine Flener Ward who passed away in 2001, his wife of 53 years. In addition to his parents, he was also preceeded in death by his brothers, Edwin and Rufus Ward. He was greeted by a host of family and friends , of whom he loved dearly, when he entered his eternal home.

He is survived by a daughter Sarah Margaret Ward and her husband Jim Thompson, of Morgantown, KY; a son, Samuel Thomas Ward and his wife Michelle, of Elizabethtown, KY; grandaugthers, Samantha Ward Adcock (Nathan) of Vine Grove, KY, Brandi Day (Donald) of Boca Raton, FL; and a gradson, Brian Bumpus (Kami) of Knoxville, TN; three great grandchildren, Lennon Marie Adcock, Lilly and Liam Day; a sister, Carson Rock Cook, of Morgantown, KY, several sisters- in- law, brothers-in- law, three generations of nieces and nephews of whom he adored and a host of friends. Often quoting one of his favorite sciptures, "A merry heart doeth good like a medicine",

Raymond truly lived life to its fullest, enjoying every day with a smile, a kind word, a good deed, many jokes and a few pranks. He was known for his love of American History, belief in good government, and enjoyed engaging conversations in politics. His greatest joys were his family, helping others and serving His Lord. He loved the unloveable; helped the seemingly unhelpable; and served the unservable, as a reflection of his love for Christ. He will be greatly missed upon this earth.

 Visitation will be held in the sancutary of Rineyville Baptist Church on Tuesday, May 10th from 11am-8pm, EDT.
 Visitation on Wednesday, May 11th, will begin at 9am at Aberdeen Baptist Church, Butler County/Morgantown, KY.
A celebration of life will begin at his home church, Aberdeen Baptist, at 3pm CDT, followed by burial in the church cemetary.
Brown Funeral Home, of Elizabethtown, is in charge of arrangements.