Obituary of Donald Earle Ward

Donald Earle Ward, a man of dignity and integrity, died on Friday, June 4, 2021. Born in Greenville, SC on September 13, 1931, he was the son of Louis and Jettie Ward and the beloved husband of Mary June Ward who predeceased him in 2014. He is survived by his children: Kay Powers and her husband, Mark; Linda Provence and her husband, Larry; Ken Ward and his wife, Amy; his grandchildren: Jeremy Powers, Lauren Cason, Phillip Provence, Aaron Provence, Lea Taylor, and Lyn Ward; and his great-grandchildren: Ali Powers, Kate Powers, Jack Powers, and Jax Taylor. He was predeceased by his sister Carolyn Miller and is survived by his brother Kenneth Ward of Tigerville and his sister, Myra Stowers of Winston-Salem.

Don was a godly man of faith. For the past 50 years, he was an active member of First Baptist Church Columbia, where he will be fondly remembered as the gracious, smiling usher who welcomed people on countless Sunday mornings for over 40 years. He also served as a deacon and member of various committees.

Don proudly served as a Military Policeman in the US Air Force at Misawa AFB, Japan, during the Korean Conflict. He had a long and successful career in the insurance industry, most recently as the President of Benefit Controls of the Midlands. He was previously the Vice-president of Brokerage Sales for Colonial Life Insurance, and Regional Vice-president of Provident Life & Accident Insurance Company for over 25 years. Don was a dedicated member of the North Greenville University Board of Trustees for over 15 years, having served as a member of the Executive Board for ten of those years.  Education was of paramount importance to Don, and he was honored to provide numerous scholarships to deserving students who otherwise would not have been able to continue their education. Don graduated from North Greenville and Furman Universities. In 2006, he was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Humanities degree from NGU. Don also served as a member of the Indian Waters Council of the Boy Scouts, the SC Law Study Committee, and the HIAA State Committee.

One of Don’s joys in life was travelling the world with his adored wife, Mary June. Their favorite trips were to Hawaii, London, the Holy Land, Alaska, Rome, and Bali. He was an avid golfer, loved boating and skiing on Lake Murray. He was a life-long supporter and fan of Gamecock football and was a gifted gardener who was proud of the abundant vegetables he grew. His pride and joy, however, were his children and grandchildren who he guided with love and wisdom. His Godly influence, his unconditional love, and his determination to make a positive difference in people's lives will be his enduring legacies.

You are invited to join us at a memorial service at 11:00 on Tuesday, June 8 at Boyce Chapel of First Baptist Church, 1306 Hampton Street, Columbia. The interment will take place at Fort Jackson National Cemetery at 1:00 on Thursday, June 10. 

Memorials may be sent to one of Don’s favorite charities, the Scott Hannon Memorial Foundation, P. O. Box 3448, Irmo, SC 29063.