Hollis Wesley Ward

Hollis Wesley Ward, 82, of Perkins, died on Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2009, in Stillwater. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. on Saturday in Perkins First Christian Church with Pastor David Massey officiating. Interment will be in Oakland Knowles Cemetery, Crescent. Strode Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. He was born on Oct. 13, 1926 in Crescent, to George Ward and Lou (Cullen) Ward. He graduated from Crescent High School in 1943 and later attended Oklahoma A and M College where he played football until enlisting in the U.S. Navy. On Oct. 10, 1944, he was assigned to the USS Hoggatt Bay aircraft carrier where he served during World War II. He was discharged in 1946 and returned to college to graduate in 1949 with a bachelor’s degree in education. He taught school and coached in Fay and Hydro. He moved to Perkins in 1953 to work as the high school principal and coach. He later returned to Oklahoma A and M to complete his master’s degree in school administration. He served as superintendent of Perkins Public Schools from 1956 until 1961. He served as mayor of Perkins, county auditor and was a former member and president of the Lions’ Club. He always helped in any way he was needed. In 1964, he went to work for the Oklahoma State Department of Education as a rehabilitation supervisor. He retired in 1985 and began his full-time career as a cattle rancher.He was preceded in death by his parents; and two brothers, Leo Ward and Cecil Ward. He and wife of 59 years, Alice Ward of Perkins, have two children, Wesley Ward and Kathy Baldwin of Oklahoma City and Linda Pendleton and her husband, David, of Midwest City; two grandchildren, Aaron Pendleton and Amy Adams and her husband, Jason; and two great granddaughters, Mackenzie Adams and Madison Adams. Condolences may be e-mailed to the family and an online obituary may be viewed by visiting www.strodefh.com.