Byron Thomas Ward

                        Byron Thomas Ward, 68, of Dugger, Indiana, passed away on Tuesday, January 3, 2017, at IU Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis, Indiana.

            He was born on April 23, 1948, in Hammond, Indiana, the son of Robert Ward and Ruby Lee Tipton Ward. Byron was a sports announcer for Union High School, a member of the Dugger Lions Club, and was a Sullivan County Councilman. He was a Green Beret Special Forces in the United States Army during the Vietnam War, and he worked at the Wabash Valley Correctional Facility. Byron was employed at the Burris Ward Flower Shop for 15 years.

            He was preceded in death by his parents, and one nephew A.J. Boone.

Survivors include his wife of 33 years who he married on September 22, 1983, Rhonda Kim Burris Ward of Dugger, two sons, Kentz Ward (Mikah) of Dugger, and Brock Ward (Nikki) of Dugger, two brothers, Robert Ward (Amy) of Georgia, and Barry Ward of Hymera, one sister, Connie Mac-Ward of Pennsylvania, two grandchildren, Mikentzie and London Ward, his mother and father-in-law Beverly and Bob Burris of Hymera, two sisters-in-law, Carrie Burris and Angie Burris, one nephew, Curtis Boone, and two nieces, Ashley Russell and Stephanie Russell.

            A celebration of life will be held at 2:00 PM on Saturday, January 21, 2017, at the Dugger Community Center. In lieu of flowers the family has asked that memorial contributions be made at www.byronwardmemorial.wordpress.com. Arrangements were entrusted to Newkirk’s Funeral Home in Dugger, Indiana.