Arnold Leon "Lee" Ward

Arnold Leon "Lee" Ward, 87, of Rineyville, passed away peacefully Wednesday, Nov. 12, 2025, at home.

He was the beloved husband of Elaine Todd for 44 years and a devoted father to his two children, Sonya Hall (Mike) and Laura Farmer (Tommy).

Born on July 6, 1938, in Louisville, to Ernest Ward and Bessie Phelps Ward. He built a successful career as a career counselor in the U.S. Army. He was known for his attention to routine and detail, his kindness, humor and his love of cooking. Lee had a passion for serving others and loved being with people. He was a member of Ridge Springs United Methodist Church, an Honorable Kentucky Colonel and a longtime volunteer for Habitat for Humanity. He was incredibly generous with his family and friends. Perhaps he was best known by his grandchildren and the children at church for his famous high fives in return for a dollar, which he happily shared every time he saw one of them. This habit earned him the title of "Papaw Dollar." In his retirement years, he enjoyed being the local volunteer mailman for his friends at Southern Pines in Frostproof, Florida, as he biked many miles a day around the community.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Ernest and Bessie Ward; six siblings, Hank, Cecil, Chester, Hazel, Evelyn and Dorothy; his loving wife, Elaine Ward; and infant son, Daniel.

Survivors include his sister, Joyce James of Gordonville, Texas, his two daughters, Sonya Hall of Cincinnati, Ohio, and Laura Farmer of Elizabethtown; his six grandchildren, Heather, Cody, Julia, Matthew, Angela and Dustin; as well as 15 great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.

The funeral is at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 19, at Nelson-Edelen-Bennett Funeral Home, 2072 South Dixie Boulevard in Radcliff. Interment with military honors follows in North Hardin Memorial Gardens.

Visitation is from 5 to 8 p.m. Tuesday and continues at 10 a.m. Wednesday at the funeral home.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Hosparus.