"Clarke Lane Ward, age 76, of Lake Lure, North Carolina, passed away Wednesday, January 20, 2021, at the Trinity Elms Health and Rehab facility in Clemmons, North Carolina.

Mr. Ward was born April 9, 1944, in Buchanan Co, Virginia, to Shaw and Ethel Mullins Ward. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by one brother, Hugh Shaw Ward, one sister Sheila Dickens Gordon, and one grandson, Osmund "Oz" Wyatt Kidd-Ward.

He is survived by daughter and son-in-law Marie and Anthony Slater, of Winston-Salem, North Carolina; sons and daughters-in-law David and Jennifer Ward, of Harrisburg, North Carolina; Chris Ward and Kendrah Kidd, of Winston-Salem, North Carolina; and sister and brother-in-law Lois Ann and Robert Blumenstein of Midlothian, Virginia; five grandchildren; and former wife and caregiver, Margaret Ward, of Galax, Virginia.

Mr. Ward is a 1962 graduate of Whitewood High School, Whitewood, VA, and a 1966 graduate of East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, TN.  He earned a BS in Business and was President of the Delta Chi Alpha chapter of the Kappa Alpha fraternity. He served as a 1st Lieutant in the U. S. Army from 1968 to 1970, as Officer in Charge of the Atlantic Radar Air Defense in the Canal Zone

Mr. Ward enjoyed a successful career in the financial services industry for more than 40 years, earning the CLU and ChFC financial designations from The American College.  He worked in Charlotte, NC for many years, specializing in retirement and estate planning services.  In 1990 he was named the Top Agency Manager in the USA for Allstate Life. He is a past President and Chairman of the Ethics in Business Awards for the Society of Financial Service Professionals.

Mr. Ward was a devoted son, brother, husband, grandfather, and friend to many.  He loved reading, history and the great outdoors. He was a devout Episcopalian and a member of The Episcopal Church of the Transfiguration in Bat Cave, North Carolina.

A private graveside service will be held with full military honors on Saturday January 30, 2021 at 2:00 PM at the Ward Cemetery with the Reverend Ernie Holland officiating.  A Celebration of Life Service will be held at Lake Lure, North Carolina at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Memory Care, 100 Far Horizons Lane, Asheville, NC  28803, or Trellis Supportive Care, 101 Hospice Lane, Winston-Salem, NC  27103.

Vaughan Guynn Funeral Home, Galax, VA is serving the family.  A guestbook is available at www.vaughan-guynn.com