Mr. JERRY WESLEY WARD

FORT WORTH -- Jerry Wesley Ward, a beloved husband, father and grandfather, passed away peacefully Thursday morning, April 17, 2014. Mr. Ward was 85 years old. Visitation: Family and friends will gather 2 to 4 p.m. Saturday in the Great Room at Robertson Mueller Harper to visit and listen to banjo music. A funeral and interment will be held in San Antonio. Memorials: In lieu of flowers, consideration of contributions to the Volunteer Services Council, Denton State Supported Living Center, Box 368, Denton, Texas 76202-0368, or to a charity of choice, in his memory, is suggested. Born in San Antonio on Nov. 17, 1928, Jerry was the son of Amos and Clara Henderson Ward. He attended Highland Park Elementary, Poe Middle and Brackenridge High schools. After graduating from high school, he attended Texas A&M University in College Station where he was a member of the Aggie Corps of Cadets and the Aggie Singing Cadets. He also served two years in the U.S. Army and was deployed to the Korean War for another two years before returning to A&M to receive a degree in petroleum engineering. During his career as petroleum engineer, he worked for American Republic, Sinclair, George Strake Oil, PED (Petroleum Exploration and Development), Shenandoah, Fuller Petroleum, Tenneco and Kellenberger Oil companies. He served as vice president of Shenandoah and president of PED. Jerry and his family lived in many different areas of Texas, including Midland, Big Spring, Winters, Silsbee, Houston, Corpus Christi and Fort Worth. While living in West Texas, he obtained his pilot's license and was able to fly the family to visit relatives. In both Midland and Winters, Jerry was a member of the Lions Club. In Winters, he chaired a committee that raised money to purchase and remodel a building on Main Street for the Winters Public Library. A library that had previously been started by Myra Glover of Winters then relocated to the new building. While living in Corpus Christi, he learned to play the banjo and played with the Toots Britain Banjo Band. Upon moving to Houston, he joined the Bayou Banjo Band. His final career move brought him to Fort Worth where he then joined the Dallas Banjo Band under the direction of band leader Smokey Montgomery. Along with playing, he also sang with the group. Since 1975, his memberships also included PART, the Parent Association for the Retarded of Texas, an organization of which his daughter, Susan, now serves as president. He was preceded in death by his parents and sister, Doris Ward Wright. Survivors: In addition to his wife of 62 years, Nancy Quinn Ward of Fort Worth, Jerry is survived by his daughters, Jerri Lynn Ward of Austin, Susan Ward Payne and her husband, Ronnie, of College Station and Dianne Ward of Denton; grandchildren, Jarad, Meagan and Travis Payne; brothers-in-law, Jerry Quinn and his wife, Mary, and J. Stephen Quinn and his wife, Pam; sister-in-law, Alice Quinn; and nieces and nephews and their families. To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Mr. JERRY WESLEY WARD please visit our Sympathy Store.