Graveside service with military honors for Charles Burton Ward will be 11:00 a.m. Monday, July 30, 2018 at Fort Sill National Cemetery, Elgin with Dr. William F. Watkins, Pastor of Locust Grove Baptist Church east of Lawton officiating.

At the conclusion of the service Mr. Ward's urn will be placed in columbarium at the cemetery along with his wife, Jeanette L. (Cox) Ward who passed away March 13, 2013.

Arrangements are under the direction of Becker-Rabon Funeral Home.

Charles Burton Ward, 78, Lawton, passed away Saturday, July 21, 2018 in Lawton. He was born September 28, 1939 in Lawton to Park E. and Pauline (Smith) Ward. Charles grew up in Lawton and was a graduate of Lawton Senior High School. Following graduation Charles attended college for a couple of years and decided to enlist into the United States Army as a still photographer. He was a veteran of Vietnam and was stationed several places around the world such as, Korea, Germany , and Italy along with different military posts within the United States. Some of the honors he earned while in the army were the: National Defense Service Medal, Good Conduct Medal-4 ^th Award, Army Commendation Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal, Expert M16 Marksman, .45 Caliber Pistol-German Bronze/Silver Shooting Award, and two overseas bars. Following his military service he worked in civil service at Fort Sill and later transferred to Kirtland Air Force, Albuquerque, New Mexico as a photographer. He later retired from Kirtland Air Force Base. Charles was an avid photographer and some of his most noted photography shoots were at President John F. Kennedy's inauguration and the Albuquerque, New Mexico Hot Air Balloon Festival.

On June 4, 1982 Charles married Jeanette L. Cox in Lawton. He loved his family very much. Charles loved to fish and loved talking about fishing, watching hunting and fishing shows on the television, and he liked to draw and paint. Charles will be missed by all who knew him.

Charles is survived by his son, Charles H. Ward and fiancé Angelika Arquero of Ponca City, three daughters, Denise Jernigan and LTC Doye of Lawton, Yolanda Jackson and William of Belleview, Florida, Claudia Null and Timothy of Longview, Texas, step daughter, Becky Archuleta and Antonio of Littleton, Colorado, step son, Gregory Smith and Petra of Rio Rancho, New Mexico, grandchildren, Mary Jane Mattison, Ryan Jernigan, Jonathan Jernigan, Travis Null and Erika, Christopher H. Ward, Melissa A. Ward, Kaitlyn Archuleta, Billy Waldrop, and Caycee Cox, seven great grandchildren plus one on the way, two sisters, Pat Moore and Jerry of Lawton, Paula Cox of Meers, three brothers, Jack Ward and Nancy of Princeton, Texas, and Donnie Ward and Al Ward, both of Siloam Springs, Arkansas.

Charles was preceded in death by his parents, wife, sister, Dorothy Lovett, sons, Timothy Ward and Michael Ward, and grandson, Tony Paul Ward.

Charitable contributions may be made to St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN 38105 or www.stjude.org .