A funeral service will be held Saturday at Backstrom-Pyeatte Funeral Home, 1401 East Main, Siloam Springs, Ark., for Zelpha Maxine Mullins Ward, 82, of Siloam Springs, Ark. The former longtime Ceres resident died April 8, 2011 at Allisonville Meadows in Fishers, Ind.,after a long illness with family by her side.
A graveside service will follow at the Bell Cemetery in West Siloam Springs, Okla.
Born in Maysville, Ark., on Nov. 26, 1928 to Joseph and Olive Hiser Mullins, Zelpha grew up in Maysville and was valedictorian of the Jay High School graduating class, Jay, Oklahoma, 1944. She married Ivan Quinton Ward on July 5, 1945. Ms. Ward worked for the Ceres Unified School District for 21 years, eventually serving as purchasing agent. She was also active in the Sweet Adelines vocal group many years, and served as president for a period of time. Zelpha was a beloved member of the Bethel Methodist Church in Siloam Springs. She served as a volunteer at Bethel Methodist Church for over 20 years visiting convalescent hospitals and organizing funeral dinners.
She leaves behind three children, Brenda Tingle of Austin, Texas, Stephen Ward of Indianapolis, Ind., and Roxanna Ward of Laguna Beach; her grandchildren, Denise Tweed of Savannah, Ga., Lisa Tingle and Pablo Thiel, both of Austin, Texas, Jenna DeSoto, Adelaide DeSoto and Hailey DeSoto, all of Modesto, Quinton Ward, Jennifer Ward, Quinton Jr. Ward, Jayden Ward, all of Carrolton, Va., and Cathy Smith Coakley and Jake Smith, both of Laguna Beach; and her sister, Melba Burton of Edmond, Okla. She was preceded in death by her infant daughter, Cheryl, husband Ivan, brother L.D. Mullins and her parents.
Remembrances may be sent to the Alzheimer's Aid Society of Northern California, 700 McHenry Avenue #B, Modesto, CA 95350.
-Ceres Courier/ April 13, 2011
A graveside service will follow at the Bell Cemetery in West Siloam Springs, Okla.
Born in Maysville, Ark., on Nov. 26, 1928 to Joseph and Olive Hiser Mullins, Zelpha grew up in Maysville and was valedictorian of the Jay High School graduating class, Jay, Oklahoma, 1944. She married Ivan Quinton Ward on July 5, 1945. Ms. Ward worked for the Ceres Unified School District for 21 years, eventually serving as purchasing agent. She was also active in the Sweet Adelines vocal group many years, and served as president for a period of time. Zelpha was a beloved member of the Bethel Methodist Church in Siloam Springs. She served as a volunteer at Bethel Methodist Church for over 20 years visiting convalescent hospitals and organizing funeral dinners.
She leaves behind three children, Brenda Tingle of Austin, Texas, Stephen Ward of Indianapolis, Ind., and Roxanna Ward of Laguna Beach; her grandchildren, Denise Tweed of Savannah, Ga., Lisa Tingle and Pablo Thiel, both of Austin, Texas, Jenna DeSoto, Adelaide DeSoto and Hailey DeSoto, all of Modesto, Quinton Ward, Jennifer Ward, Quinton Jr. Ward, Jayden Ward, all of Carrolton, Va., and Cathy Smith Coakley and Jake Smith, both of Laguna Beach; and her sister, Melba Burton of Edmond, Okla. She was preceded in death by her infant daughter, Cheryl, husband Ivan, brother L.D. Mullins and her parents.
Remembrances may be sent to the Alzheimer's Aid Society of Northern California, 700 McHenry Avenue #B, Modesto, CA 95350.
-Ceres Courier/ April 13, 2011
