Obituaries
Millard Norfleet Ward
( July 16, 1926 - September 5, 2021 )
Millard Norfleet Ward, age 95, of Royal Drive in Lincolnton, passed away on Sunday, September 5, 2021.
His funeral service will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Wednesday, September 8, 2021, at First Baptist Church with Rev. Dr. Stanley Spence and Rev. Dr. Dixon Free officiating. Burial will follow in Forest Lawn Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 12:00 until 12:45 p.m. prior to the service at the church.
Mr. Ward was born July 16, 1926, in Edenton, North Carolina, to the late Ernest J. and Annie W. Ward of Edenton, NC. In addition to his parents, he was also preceded in death by a daughter, Pamela Driver; and two brothers, Ernest J. Ward, Jr. and John Ward. Millard grew up in Edenton, was a graduate of Edenton High School, and after high school attended Oak Ridge Military Institute. He enlisted in the United States Navy at the age of 17 during World War II. Millard was assigned to the USS Waukesha, AKA 84 South Pacific theater, and was skipper of landing craft KA84-18. His ship was active in many battles, including the invasion of Okinawa and Iwo Jima. One of six ships in Task Force 31, the Waukesha was with the first US forces to enter Tokyo Bay on 27 August 1945 and participated in the landing and seizure of Yokosuka Naval Base. They were also the first US forces to enter Nagasaki after the atomic bomb was dropped and where he witnessed the devastation firsthand. After the war, he attended NC State College, class of 1950, in textiles. His career expanded working for Burlington Industries, McNeil Industries, and BSF. Millard was an active member of First Baptist Church, Lincolnton, where he was a Deacon, Sunday School teacher and choir member. He was a musician playing the clarinet and alto saxophone, and while at ECTC (ECU), played in the school band and Cadets dance band. Millard enjoyed making and gifting walking sticks. He was known for his stories, dry humor, and incredible memory. Millard was knowledgable about almost any subject anyone brought up and was truly a man of faith, family, and country.
He is survived by his wife of 69 years, Hilda Crenshaw Ward of the home; sons, Michael Ward (June) of Clayton, and Timothy Ward (Kim) of Lincolnton; brother, Eugene Ward (Katie) of Wadesboro; seven grandchildren, Amanda Dengler (Jonathan), Emily Ashcraft (James), Austin Ward (Nia), Stephen Ward (Stephanie), Daniel Ward (Lauren), Jessica Evans (Andrew), and David Ward (Hannah); sixteen great-grandchildren; and son-in-law, Eugene Driver.
Memorials may be made to North Carolina Missions, c/o First Baptist Church, 201 Robin Road, Lincolnton, NC 28092.
His funeral service will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Wednesday, September 8, 2021, at First Baptist Church with Rev. Dr. Stanley Spence and Rev. Dr. Dixon Free officiating. Burial will follow in Forest Lawn Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 12:00 until 12:45 p.m. prior to the service at the church.
Mr. Ward was born July 16, 1926, in Edenton, North Carolina, to the late Ernest J. and Annie W. Ward of Edenton, NC. In addition to his parents, he was also preceded in death by a daughter, Pamela Driver; and two brothers, Ernest J. Ward, Jr. and John Ward. Millard grew up in Edenton, was a graduate of Edenton High School, and after high school attended Oak Ridge Military Institute. He enlisted in the United States Navy at the age of 17 during World War II. Millard was assigned to the USS Waukesha, AKA 84 South Pacific theater, and was skipper of landing craft KA84-18. His ship was active in many battles, including the invasion of Okinawa and Iwo Jima. One of six ships in Task Force 31, the Waukesha was with the first US forces to enter Tokyo Bay on 27 August 1945 and participated in the landing and seizure of Yokosuka Naval Base. They were also the first US forces to enter Nagasaki after the atomic bomb was dropped and where he witnessed the devastation firsthand. After the war, he attended NC State College, class of 1950, in textiles. His career expanded working for Burlington Industries, McNeil Industries, and BSF. Millard was an active member of First Baptist Church, Lincolnton, where he was a Deacon, Sunday School teacher and choir member. He was a musician playing the clarinet and alto saxophone, and while at ECTC (ECU), played in the school band and Cadets dance band. Millard enjoyed making and gifting walking sticks. He was known for his stories, dry humor, and incredible memory. Millard was knowledgable about almost any subject anyone brought up and was truly a man of faith, family, and country.
He is survived by his wife of 69 years, Hilda Crenshaw Ward of the home; sons, Michael Ward (June) of Clayton, and Timothy Ward (Kim) of Lincolnton; brother, Eugene Ward (Katie) of Wadesboro; seven grandchildren, Amanda Dengler (Jonathan), Emily Ashcraft (James), Austin Ward (Nia), Stephen Ward (Stephanie), Daniel Ward (Lauren), Jessica Evans (Andrew), and David Ward (Hannah); sixteen great-grandchildren; and son-in-law, Eugene Driver.
Memorials may be made to North Carolina Missions, c/o First Baptist Church, 201 Robin Road, Lincolnton, NC 28092.
Posted on 06 Sep 2021
Current Information
Contact
125 Dave Warlick Drive
Lincolnton, NC 28092
704/735-2521