James Clayton Ward Jr.

October 29, 2018 Last Updated: October 29, 2018 12:00 PM Death Notice

James Clayton Ward Jr., 63, of Butler went home to be with the Lord Thursday at his home surrounded by his family.

He was born May 25, 1955, in Butler, and was the son of Mary Groves Ward Kinter and the late James Clayton Ward Sr.

James was a 1973 graduate of Knoch High School.

He then worked as a locator for CLS Utility and Premier Utility Locating Co. James also worked at Monro Muffler in Butler.

He was a member of First Baptist Church. James loved the Lord and sang in the church choir.

He enjoyed restoring antique cars, going to car shows, watching the Pittsburgh Steelers and spending time with his family.

James is survived by his loving wife, Loretta I. Bowser Ward, whom he married on Feb. 24, 1996; four sons, James Ward III and his wife, Melissa, of Butler, Michael Ward and his wife, Stacey, of Butler, Ryan Wilcox and his wife, Jessica, of Butler, and Steve Smock and his wife, Cheryl, of Emlenton; three daughters, Nicole Cotter and her husband, Shane, of New Castle, Lesli Berry and her husband, Douglas, of Akron, Ohio, and Bethany Schoentag and her husband, Geremy, of Chicora; one exchange daughter, Minji Park of South Korea; 21 grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; his mother, Mary Ward Kinter and her husband, Edmond, of Butler; three sisters, Carol Albright and her husband, Alan, of Butler, Kathleen Matteson of New York, N.Y., and Elisabeth “Lisa” Oesterling of Butler; and several nieces and nephews.

WARD — Friends of James Clayton Ward Jr., who died Thursday, Sept. 27, 2018, will be received from 1 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Monday at Thompson-Miller Funeral Home, 124 E. North St., Butler.Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday at First Baptist Church, 221 W. New Castle St., Butler, with Pastor David Maitland officiating.Burial will take place in the Greenlawn Burial Estates.In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial donations be made to First Baptist Christian School, 221 W. New Castle St., Butler, PA 16001, or to Slippery Rock Baptist Camp, 130 Elliott Lane, Slippery Rock, PA 16057.Online condolences can be given at www.thompson-miller.com.