George E. Ward

George Eldridge Ward, 78, a resident of Dothan and formerly of Geneva, passed away Saturday November 7, 2015 at a local hospital.

A Victory Celebration will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, November 11, 2015 at Sunset Funeral Home. The family will receive friends from 10-11:00 a.m. prior the service at the funeral home. Flowers are being accepted or memorial donations may be made in honor of George's grandson, Ross Jones, to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, 600 Beacon Parkway West, Suite 860, Birmingham, AL, 35209.

George Eldridge Ward was born September 12, 1937, in Geneva, Alabama, to the late John W. Ward and Annie Black Ward. He was a 1955 graduate of Geneva High School and earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting from Auburn University in 1963. He worked as an auditor and tax accountant in both Birmingham and Huntsville before returning to his home in Geneva in 1971, where he would work for Benson Investment Company until he retired. George was active in the community and served on the Recreation Board, Geneva City School Board and more than 20 years as a Deacon at First Baptist Church.

George was a longtime supporter of Auburn University, and one of his favorite things to do was take his family to Auburn on football Saturdays for times of fun and fellowship and of course, cheering on his beloved Tigers. The only thing he loved more than AU football was his dear family and he rarely missed any event they were participating in. In later years he reveled in the activities of his two grandsons who brought him so much joy and whom he loved beyond measure. He is preceded in death by his brother John Franklin Ward and by the absolute love of his life, wife Patsy Ann Galloway Ward to whom he was married for 55 years.

George is survived by two children, Leisa Ward Aaron Jones and Jeffrey George Ward; and two beloved grandsons, Ross Eldridge Jones and Jackson Aaron Jones, all of Dothan.

George was a man who loved the Lord, loved his family and tried to treat everyone he met with respect. He suffered a series of debilitating strokes in 2001 but fought hard to gain back as much of his life as possible. He showed everyone around him—by living example—that you can always overcome obstacles in your life by hard work, dedication and by maintaining a positive outlook.