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Obituary for Rufus Wilford Ward
Rufus Ward 89 of Eatonton passed away at his residence on Friday, October 10th. He was born in Homer, Georgia on July 8, 1925, he was one of 14 children of the late Glenn Ward and the late Lonnie Gowder Ward. Rufus was in the United States Navy during World War II serving as a Medic. When he returned to Putnam County in the 1940’s and held several local jobs. He was a soda jerk at Rossee Drug Store, pumped gas at the Standard Oil Station, but is best remembered as a character named “Doc Jive” from the radio station in Madison. He also went on to work many years in Warner Robins at the Naval Ordinance Plant. In his spare time he was an avid reader, gardener and played several instruments as well as wrote songs. He was preceded in death by his parents and wife Lois Watson Ward and Marion Thompson Ward. He is survived by his daughter Brenda Harrell & husband Johnny of Eatonton, granddaughters Julie Harrell Usry & husband Steven, Jennifer Harrell Morris & husband Bruce, great grandchildren Abbey, Andrew, Alex Usry, Brenlyn, Claire, Jackson Morris and brother Ernest Ward of Madison, and several nieces and nephews, sisters-in-law Carol Ward (Roy), Margie Ward (Albert), Mary Ward (Glenn), Mary Watson (Bill), Doris Leach (Loren) and Betty Corbitt. A private family memorial service was held on Sunday, October 12, 2014 at 4 PM at Apalachee Cemetery in Apalachee, Georgia.
