John Smithee Ward

John Smithee Ward, 98, slipped out of this life and into God’s glory on March 13, 2018 after a brief illness.

MEMORIALS: In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to the Wesley Mission Center of First Methodist Church of Mansfield, 777 N. Walnut Creek Drive, Mansfield, Texas 76063.

John was born in Mansfield March 10, 1920, to Benjamin Newton Ward and Nora Etta Smithee Ward. He was the ninth of thirteen siblings. He attended school in Mansfield and graduated in 1937, then studied at Brantley Draughon Business College before enlisting in the U.S. Army in 1940 during WWII. He proudly served in the 36th Division Artillery, which was among the first to land on the European Continent in September of 1943. He had achieved the rank of Technical Sergeant when he was discharged in May 1945.

John worked for 28 years as a weather analyst for the U. S. Weather Service. While working in New Orleans, he fell in love with another weather service employee, Mary Jo Burkhalter, and they married in 1946 after dating just two weeks. They celebrated 65 years together. Their first child, daughter Janis Jo was born in 1947, and three years later their son, Dave Smithee, was born. The family moved to Waco and then to Fort Worth in 1954. They were active members of Grace United Methodist Church in Fort Worth. In 1983, ten years after retiring, John and Jo returned to his hometown, Mansfield, to live, and moved their membership to First United Methodist Church of Mansfield. They were active in the Wesley Sunday School Class, Fun Seekers and Wesley Mission Center. Much of John’s retirement years was spent in acts of loving kindness, always selflessly seeking to do what was best for others. He had a gentle and compassionate heart that took great delight in time with little ones, and big or small, all who encountered him experienced his warmth, his honesty and integrity. His devotion to family has been a blessing through five generations.

After losing Dave in 2004 and Jo in 2011, John moved to Sugar Land to live with Jan and her husband, Burke. Before February 18 he was still driving, playing bridge with friends, working crossword puzzles, and participating in many church activities. His vitality of body, mind and spirit amazed and inspired many.

He was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Mary Jo Ward, and beloved son, Dave Ward.

SURVIVORS: Daughter, Jan Randolph and husband, Burke; granddaughters, Alyssa Randolph, Brenna Randolph and husband, Eman Sojoodi, Arden Ward and husband, Finney Walter; great-grandchildren, Lauren James and husband, Cameron, Madison Yonker and husband, Jon, Leila Sojoodi, Norah Sojoodi, Davis Sojoodi; great-great-granddaughter, Ava Grace James; and sister, Ona Martin.