Robert Edward Ward

Funeral services for Robert Edward Ward, 74, of Henderson, who passed away on July 30, 2012, in Hospice of East Texas HomePlace in Tyler, will be at 10 A.M. on Thursday, August 2, 2012, at Crawford-A.Crim Funeral Home in Henderson, with Rev. Bruce Wells officiating. Interment will be in Bogata Cemetery in Bogata, Texas, at 4 P.M. on that day, with Rev. Billy Daniels in charge of services. Mr. Ward was born July 17, 1938, in White Oak, Texas, the only son of Edward J. (Eddie) and Ouida White Ward. He was a 1956 graduate of Sabine High School in Liberty City, Texas, attended Kilgore College, and received his Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering from Lamar University in 1960. He began work with Texas Department of Transportation (then Texas Highway Department) in 1960, as an engineering assistant in Houston. After serving in the U.S. Army from 1961-1963, he returned to TxDOT as an engineering assistant in Longview, then receiving his Certificate of Registration as a Professional Engineer in January of 1968. He later became Tyler District's bridge engineer, supervising bridge construction in Cherokee, Gregg, Henderson, Smith, and Wood Counties before being assigned to the Longview office in 1977 as Senior Resident Engineer. He was promoted to supervising resident engineer in 1982, where he was responsible for overseeing highway construction and maintenance for most highways in Gregg and Rusk Counties, and remained in Longview until his retirement in 1991, after 31 years of service. He worked ten years for Schaumburg & Polk, Inc., Consulting Engineers, before retiring for a second time in December of 2006.In 1993, Robert married for the first and only time in his life, to Mary Ann (Vaughan) Hill, and became a patient and loving "Pop." Robert was an avid golfer, and spent many hours with his good friends at Henderson Country Club. He loved classical music, singing in the choir, equestrian sports and horse racing, flying, traveling, and homemade ice cream. Although he was a quiet man, he loved to laugh, and his friends and family enjoyed watching him laugh.He is survived by his loving wife, Mary Ann Ward, step-daughter Angela Pierce of McKinney, and two grandchildren, Taylor and Brandon Pierce, of McKinney, sister JoAnn Bickham of Longview, many cousins, nieces, and nephews, and a host of friends.Mr. Ward was preceded in death by his parents, and by his brother-in-law, Bill Bickham.Pallbearers will be Bobby Joe Myers, Royce Dunlap, John L. Duran, Ron Allen, Kent Bickham, and Kyle Bickham. Honorary pallbearers will be Ron Bamberg, John Foster, Dr. James H. Mann, and golfing friends of Henderson Country Club.Visitation is scheduled for August 1, 2012, from 5 to 7 P.M. at Crawford-A. Crim Funeral Home in Henderson.If desired, the family requests that memorials may be made to Hospice of East Texas HomePlace in Tyler, www.hospiceofeasttexas/donations_online.php.

Robert Edward Ward

July 17, 1938 - July 30, 2012