John Keener Ward, Sr.

Darlington, SC – John Keener Ward, Sr, 88, passed away on Sunday Sept. 12, 2021 surrounded by his loving family.

Funeral Services will be Tuesday, Sept. 14, 2021 at 2:00 p.m. at Layton-Anderson Funeral Home.  A private burial will be at Byrd Cemetery, Timmonsville.  The family will speak to those attending briefly following the service.

Mr. Ward was born in Florence County, the son of the late Cecil Ward, Sr. and the late Mary Claire Summers Ward.  John served in the US Navy during the Korean Conflict. He retired with 35 years of service as a Supervisor with the US Post Office.  He was a Elder in the Presbyterian Church for 30 years.  Playing golf was a passion, and sharing the story of his eleven holes-in one. He enjoyed flying in small planes around the area.  He was a volunteer firefighter with the Town of Timmonsville for 35 years.

Surviving are his wife of 66 years, Betty Jo McElveen Ward; three sons, Johnny Ward, Jr, Woody Ward, David Ward; sister, Mary Ann (George) Rentz; his four grandchildren, Wesley, Jennifer, Dustin and Gavin; four great grandchildren and a number of nieces and nephews; his brother and sister-in-law, Wesley and Barbara McElveen, and a special friend, Melodie Young.   He is preceded in death by a brother, Cecil Ward, Jr.

The family would extends a special thank-you to his caregivers, Pam Shipley and Nathan Hughes.

Memorials may be made to Friends of Byrd Cemetery, P O Box 187, Timmonsville, SC 29161 or the McLeod Foundation, C/O McLeod Hospice,  P O Box 100551, Florence, SC 29501.

You are invited to sign the guestbook at www.laytonandersonfh.com

Layton-Anderson Funeral Home, 4210 W. Palmetto Street, Florence, SC  29501.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of John Keener Ward, Sr., please visit our floral store.