Pawnee County, Oklahoma, Obituary: Earnest C. Ward Contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Chapman-Black Funeral Home, Inc. 108 West Delaware P.O. Box 74 Cleveland, OK 74020 918-358-2511 800-252-4507 info@chapman-black.com ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- USGENWEB ARCHIVES NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. http://www.usgwarchives.net/ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Earnest C. Ward November 02, 1922 - December 02, 2002 Resided In: Cleveland Oklahoma Funeral Home: Chapman-Black Funeral Home, Inc. Visitation: December 04, 2002 Service: December 05, 2002 Cemetery: Woodland Cemetery [Photo included] Earnest C. "Ernie" Ward was born November 2, 1922 in Prague, Oklahoma. He was the son of William Melford and Susie Lavina Ward. Ernie was raised and attended school in the Coweta area as his family operated a farm in the Verdigris Bottom area. Upon completion of his education, he continued working with his family growing corn in the basin area of the river until the property was flooded and the farm lost. On December 17, 1943, Ernie was inducted into the service of his country in the United States Army. Sergeant Ward was assigned to the 27th Infantry Division as a combat infantryman and rifleman. He participated in the invasion of the Ryukyus Islands specifically designed to capture the island of Okinawa as part of the allied strategy to defeat Japan. During the campaign, Sergeant Ward received the following decorations and citations: Good Conduct Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Theatre Ribbon, World War II Victory Medal and a Meritorious Unit Award. He was honorably discharged from active military service on April 19, 1946. Shortly after returning from the war, Ernie moved with his family to Hopeville, California and began working on a farm baling hay with two of his brothers. While attending a church function, he met his soon to be wife, Betty Compton. The couple was married on July 18, 1948 in Tulare, California. After their marriage, Ernie and Betty moved to the Los Angeles area where Ernie accepted employment at a Chrysler Automobile assembly plant, installing doors on new cars. He then began a career as a butcher by operating his own meat market in Bell Flower, California. He continued to work as a butcher at various meat markets in the Los Angeles area before moving his family to Oklahoma in January of 1970. The couple had four children, John, David, Armetta and Dorothea. After arriving in Oklahoma, the Ward family established their residence in the Cleveland area and Ernie worked for a short time as a butcher at the IGA in Mannford. In the later part of 1970, Ernie purchased Katie's Café on West Caddo in Cleveland, establishing Ernie's Café. He operated this café for nearly three years before buying Ward's Restaurant at 711 West Caddo in Cleveland as a partnership with Phil and Judy Ann Ward. Ernie and Betty then purchased sole ownership of the restaurant and operated as a family business until 1991. For health reasons, Ernie semi-retired following open heart surgery and then closed the landmark Cleveland restaurant in 1992. Ernie could best be described as a man who loved to work. While operating the restaurant he would often begin his days as early as 4:00 a.m.. and remain there until well after closing time at 9:00 p.m. Although he worked considerable hours, he always found time for his children and grandchildren, often by incorporating them into the daily operation of the business. When time allowed, Ernie loved to fish and hunt for quail. After his retirement, he enjoyed playing table games including Forty-Two, Uno and others. He was also an avid John Wayne fan. Ernie was a longtime member of the First Baptist Church in Cleveland, Oklahoma where he attended faithfully. He was also a member of the American Legion, Everett Taylor Post in Cleveland. He was a caring and compassionate person, although he rarely showed his feelings. He often would assist those in need with food or meals, helping to pay utility bills or providing other assistance. However, his love for people was obvious in his enjoyment of visiting and talking with friends and customers alike. Ernie passed away on Monday, December 2, 2002 at the Hillcrest Medical Center in Tulsa at the age of eighty years, one month. He was preceded in death by his parents, two sisters, Lela Ruth Mitchell and Mary F. O'Neal; five brothers, Willie Ward, Oscar Ward, John Ward, Seth Ward and Earl Ward. He is survived by his wife, Betty of the home; two sons and their wives, John and Roberta Ward, Cleveland, Oklahoma, David and Joyce Ward of Cleveland, Oklahoma; daughters, Armetta and Stephanie Ward, Tulsa, Oklahoma, Dorothea and her husband, Harlin Hendricks of Cleveland, Oklahoma; ten grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren and a brother, M. T. Ward of Sapulpa, Oklahoma. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m., Thursday, December 5, 2002 at the First Baptist Church with Dr. Larry Wilson officiating. Burial will be at the Woodland Cemetery under the direction of the Chapman-Black Funeral Home. Visit and online obituary and guestbook for Earnest C. Ward at www.chapman-black.com.