Florence, SC- Cecil William Ward, Jr. 86, died in a local hospital on Sunday evening October 25, 2015.

Funeral services will be Thursday, Oct. 29, 2015 at 2:00 p.m. at Dawsey United Methodist Church, Florence. Interment will follow at Mt. Hope Cemetery. Visitation will be Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2015 from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Layton-Anderson Funeral Home, Florence.

Cecil was the son of the late Cecil W. Ward, Sr. and Mary Clare Summers Ward. He retired as a Major from the US Air Force Reserves, having served during the Korean Conflict. He received his Master's degree from the University of South Carolina majoring in Secondary Education. He was on the track team while attending USC. After college he taught in the Public School system and served as Principal in various schools in South Carolina. Before retiring, he was the Director of Secondary Education for Florence School District #1. Cecil was a charter member of Dawsey United Methodist Church. He was a member of the Florence Evening Lions Club, having served as Past State President and was active for more than 30 years. His sporting activities included fishing, hunting, and skeet shooting. He was a member of the Wildlife Action Assoc. Cecil was a member of the Timmonsville, SC American Legion Post.

Surviving are his wife of 64 years, Opal Powers Ward; three sons, Dennis Ward, Travis (Kathy) Ward all of Florence, Matt (Laurie) Ward, Pawleys Island; daughter, Marlene Ward also of Florence; brother, John Keener (Betty) Ward, Darlington, sister, Mary Ann (George) Rentz, West Columbia, SC; four grandchildren, Banks Ward, Summers Ward, Christina Ward and Alex Ward.

Memorials may be made to Dawsey United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 12461, Florence, SC 29504 or the Florence Evening Lions Club, C/O Lynn Croshaw, 1907 Cypress Rd, Florence, SC 29501. You are invited to sign the guestbook at www.laytonandersonfh.com