Bill L Ward COL (Retired)

Colonel (Retired) Bill Ward, 82, of Athens, passed away Thursday, September 7th, 2023. He was born October 17th, 1940, to Thomas and Lolie (Knowles) Ward. He was a 34-year Army veteran who served in the Vietnam War as an Army Aviator. His subsequent assignments included senior logistical positions. Bill was also a professor at the University of West Alabama and was known for his great mentorship of students. He was the District President for the Lions Club in Alabama and was involved with the Gideons. Bill is a Deacon Emeritus at the Livingston First Presbyterian Church. He was a much beloved member of the Old Guys golf group at Canebrake Club of Athens. Colonel Ward was a graduate of Troy State University, Troy, Alabama (BS and MBA) and The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, Alabama (PhD). He graduated from the United States Army War College in 1985. His awards and decorations include: Somerville Award (given for extraordinary achievement in Joint Logistics), the Officer Candidate School Hall of Fame, the Legion of Merit, the Air Medal with nineteen (19) Oak Leaf Clusters, the Republic of Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm, the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal with Valor Device, and the Army Aviator Badge. Colonel Ward also has many other decorations and awards. He is survived by his wife Mary Spann Ward; sons Colonel (Retired) David Ward (Kimberly) and Colonel (Retired) Chad Ward (Stephanie); granddaughters Audrey Kate Andrews (John), Meredith Long (Logan), and Anne Everett Ward; brother Sam Ward (Sarah); sisters Helen Weeks (Wayne) and Dianne Norwood (Marlon), and a host of nieces and nephews. Col. Ward is preceded in death by his parents Thomas and Lolie Ward. The funeral service will be Tuesday, September 12th, 2023, at Limestone Chapel Funeral Home, at 11:00 a.m., with Dusty McLemore officiating. Visitation will be Tuesday, September 12th, from 9:30 to 10:45 a.m., at the funeral home. Pallbearers will be John Andrews, Logan Long, Bo Purinton, Billy Schaffer, Micky Wolfe, and Sean Sawyer. Honorary Pallbearers will be the ‘Old Guys Golf Group’ from Canebrake Golf Club. The Alabama Army National Guard will provide graveside honors. Burial will be at Thatch-Mann Cemetery. The family has established a scholarship at Bryant Bank in his name for first generation college students: the Bill Ward Scholarship.

Bill L Ward COL (Retired)

October 17, 1940 - September 7, 2023