William Hugh Ward

Our son William Hugh Ward was ushered by the angels into the throne room of God on March 23, 2023. On that date, William woke up on Earth that morning only to arrive in Heaven that night to be surrounded by family and friends who had passed years ago. There among his greeters was the One who made his trip possible…Jesus Christ. 

William became missing on March 22, 2023, from Van Buren County, Arkansas. After one year and six months after a statewide missing person’s investigation, his remains were discovered on September 5, 2024, in Van Buren County, Arkansas. 

William was the son of Hugh Donald Ward, Jr. of Beebe and Carla Lee Ward (Leland) of Lonoke. He was born in Jacksonville, Arkansas on September 08, 1988. 

During his early life, William played sports in Beebe. He played basketball, soccer, and football. His favorite was baseball. In this he played all of the positions, even pitcher. Even at young age, he developed an arm that he could throw a baseball from outfield to the home plate. He always wanted to play on a professional baseball team. 

He was preceded in death by his paternal grandparents, Hugh Donald Ward, Sr. and Dorothy Ann McReynolds, an aunt, Martha Ann Ward, and cousin, Ashley Lynn Bunch and by his maternal grandparents Roy Lional Leland and Oleta Mae Hunt, and an uncle, Roy Lional Leland, Jr. 

Surviving family members other than his parents is a sister, Madison O’neal Ward of San Juan of Puerto Rico along with a niece, Sofia Isabella Ward, three sons, Kaiden Elijah Ward of Benton, Landon Cole Rettig of Pascagoula, Mississippi, Warren Hugh Ward of Ward, Arkansas, and one daughter, Braeleigh Ann of Greenbrier, Arkansas, many aunts, uncles, cousins, and a host of friends.

William graduated from Beebe High School in 2007. In the fall of 2007, he joined the United States Marine Corps Reserves and graduated from the Marine Corp basic training in San Diego, California. He was then transferred to Fort Leonardwood, Missouri. 

William’s specialty was lawn care services and groundman work. During this time, he worked for several lawn maintenance companies in central Arkansas. He also loved to fish and try to beat his dad at catching the largest fish. He couldn’t but he still tried! 

Services for William will be a visitation on September 19, 2024, at Smith Westbrook Funeral Home Chapel from 6-8 p.m. Funeral service for William will be September 20, 2024, at 10.00 a.m. in the chapel located at the Smith Westbrook Funeral Home, 404 W. Dewitt Henry Drive, Beebe. The funeral service will be conducted by Rev. Tommy Miller, pastor of Union Valley Baptist Church located on Highway 64 West in Beebe. There will be a private burial in Meadowbrook Memorial Gardens in Beebe at a later date. www.smithfamilycares.com

Memorial donations towards funeral costs can be made in the Smith Westbrook Funeral Home office.