Delbert Ward Jr.

Delbert Dewey Ward Jr., 74, of Mt. Tom Road, Marietta died at 1 a.m. Friday, Jan. 14, 2005, at the Arbors of Marietta.

He was born Oct. 28, 1930, in Williamstown, a son of the late Delbert Dewey Ward Senior and Freda Casto Ward. He was a graduate of Williamstown High School. He began working at the Fenton Art Glass Co. at the age of 15. He later served in the Korean Conflict and returned to the Fenton Co. after he received his discharge from the Army. He became plant manager of the hot metal department and held this position until his retirement in 1995. He was a member of American Legion Post 159, Williamstown. He and his wife enjoyed traveling and drove to Alaska three times, plus trips to Mexico and Nova Scotia and to many areas of Canada. He also enjoyed gardening. He came to know the Lord prior to his first surgery.

On Aug. 25, 1971, he married Carol Ward, who survives with his stepdaughter, Beverly Carpenter of Marietta; one son, Douglas Alan Ward and his wife, Marsha, of Marietta; two daughters, Debbie Lu Buchanan of Parkersburg and Diedre Goins and her husband, Ryan, of Virginia Beach, Va., by a previous marriage; and his faithful friend and companion, his bulldog Jake; seven grandchildren; four step grandchildren; one great-great-granddaughter; one sister, Dorothy Hune and her husband, Ed, of Williamstown; and three brothers, William Ward and his friend, Jennifer, Richard Ward and his wife, Mary, and David Ward and his wife, Julie.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by one son, Donald Ward; and two brothers, Mike and Stephen Ward.

Funeral services will be 2:30 p.m. today at McClure-Schafer-Lankford Funeral Home, with the Rev. Linda Steelman officiating. Interment will be 1 p.m. Monday at East Lawn Memorial Park with military rites. Friends may call at the funeral home until the hour of services.