John T. Ward

Pittman Funeral Home of Geneva

Viewed: 3014

Posted by: ChadWhisnant
334-684-2600
Date: May 13 2015 4:24 PM

Mr. John T. Ward of Geneva passed away at his residence on Wednesday, May 13, 2015. He was 87. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. Friday, May 15, 2015 at Geneva Presbyterian Church with Rev. Joe Lisenby and Pastor Dee Koza officiating. Burial will follow at Sunset Memorial Gardens with Pittman Funeral Home of Geneva directing. The family will receive friends at the funeral home on Thursday, May 14, 2015 from 5:00 until 7:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Geneva Rescue Squad, 701 S. Commerce St., Geneva, AL 36340 or the Geneva Fire Department, 612 E. Magnolia Ave., Geneva, AL 36340. 

Mr. Ward was born in Malone, FL, on February 13, 1928, to the late Hagler Dalton and Mary Thomas Ward. He attended Florida State University, and served in the United States Army. He and his wife, Florida, relocated to Geneva where he and his brothers started the local Ford dealership, Ward Motor Company. Upon his father’s death, John resumed the operations of Ward Pulp Wood Company. It was at the age of 27 that he began his career in banking. He was one of the original organizers of The American Bank, was one of the bank’s initial stockholders, and one of its first Directors. He served as The American Bank’s Chairman of the Board for 45 years. In the 1980s, Mr. Ward, along with H.G. Hayes and Dr. John C. Miller, was appointed to the bank’s first established formal loan committee. The three men would meet weekly to review any pending business. John was very active in the local community where he was one of the original members, and past President of the Geneva Rotary Club, which honored him as a Paul Harris Fellow. He was also a member of the Friends of Ft. Rucker. As a member of the Geneva Presbyterian Church, he was an Elder, and served as a past Sunday school teacher and Superintendent. In his retirement, John enjoyed spending time at the bay, and in the mountains with his beloved family, and friends. In addition to his parents, one son, John T. “Little John” Ward, preceded him in death.

He is survived by his wife of sixty-one years, Florida Street Ward; three children; Stephanie W. Chesteen (Donnie), all of Geneva, Johna W. Buntyn (Mark) of Lake Providence, LA, and Robert H. Ward of Geneva; six grandchildren, John Christopher Chesteen of Hartford, Roxanna Leigh Chesteen of Birmingham, Matthew Street Buntyn of Lake Providence, LA, Robert Hagler Ward, II of Samson, Haden Ward Brown of Ashford and Hunter Walker Ward of Geneva; eight great grandchildren, Walker Ward, Christian Ward, Asher Ward, Jaxon Donaldson, Grayce Chesteen, Kaden Ward, Klaire Ward, and Madison Chesteen; two brothers, Levy Ward (Jean) of Geneva and Al Gene Ward (Gail) of Cottondale, FL.

Please visit www.pittmanfuneral.com to offer your condolences in our online guest registry.

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