C. Ray Ward

LACON — C. Ray Ward, 81, of Lacon died Friday, July 3, 2009, at Perry Memorial Hospital in Princeton.

Born Dec. 8, 1927, in Decatur to Clarence L. and Mae (Crocker) Ward, he married Mildred Grothe Dec. 25, 1953, in Varna. She survives.

He was in the Merchant Marines during World War II and served in the U.S. Army during the Korean Conflict. He was a farmer in rural Lacon and was the former road commissioner of Hopewell Township. He was also a machinist and mechanic, working at Caterpillar, WABCO and WR Grace.

Surviving are two sons, David R. (Debbie) Ward of Hennepin and Richard L. (Jolyn) Ward of rural Lacon; two daughters, Angela J. (JC) Crocker of rural Lacon and Kathryn C. (Mark) Hudson of Elgin; one foster son, Gary A. (Linda) Davis of Lewistown; one brother, James H. (Evelyn) Ward of Washington, Ill.; two sisters, Janice S. (Thomas) Berlett of Washington, Ill., and Sally Ann (Herbert) Thomas of Germantown Hills; 10 grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his mother, father and stepmother, Lillie “Sally” Russell; two brothers, Richard Lee and Robert T. Ward; and one son, Mark Dean Ward.

Services will be at 11 a.m. Thursday at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Varna, with the Rev. Peter Glock officiating.

Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday at the Lenz Memorial Home, Lacon, and one hour prior to services Thursday at the church.

Memorials may be directed to Henry Ambulance, St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Varna, Bethesda Lutheran Home of Watertown, Wis., or the National Kidney Foundation.