Bob Ward

Funeral services for Dr. Robert (Bob) Martin Ward Jr, age 72 of Cookeville, will be held at 1 pm Saturday, April 12 at Stevens Street Baptist Church in Cookeville. Rev. Sam Rainer, Dr. Jimmy Arms and Rev. Elijah Morar will officiate. Interment will follow at Crest Lawn Cemetery. The family will receive friends Friday from 4 – 8 pm at the Cookeville Chapel of Hooper Huddleston & Horner Funeral Home and again Saturday from 11 am until service time at the church. Dr. Ward died Wednesday morning, April 9, 2014 at Centennial Medical Center in Nashville. He was born October 3, 1941 in Chattanooga, TN to the late Robert Martin Sr. and Hazel Payne Ward. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by two sisters, Peggy Ward and Bettye Poston. Dr. Ward was a graduate of Red Bank High School and Luther Rice Seminary where he received his undergraduate and graduate degrees. He completed his Doctorate of Ministry in 1981 from Luther Rice Seminary. He was an US Army Reserve veteran. Dr. Ward's service in ministry included minister of music at First Baptist Church Hixson, TN, Mt. Olive Baptist Church Knoxville, TN, and Park Avenue Baptist Church Nashville, TN. He served as minister of evangelism at First Baptist Church Center Point, AL. In 1980, he became the pastor of Stock Creek Baptist Church Knoxville, TN. He later became pastor of Washington Avenue Baptist Church Cookeville where he served over thirteen years. In 1995, Dr. Ward was called to missions in Romania. He founded Partners In Missions, International, a nonprofit ministry, serving pastors in the US as well as in Romania. Under his leadership, the organization planted 42 churches, built many church buildings, trained Romanian pastors, sponsored countless free medical clinics, facilitated children's camps, led personal door-to-door evangelism, ministered in gypsy villages, and arranged for thousands of people to participate in short-term mission projects. Known for his firm handshake, humor, compassion, and heart for The Lord Jesus and His Word, his passion was to see people born into the kingdom of God. He loved his family and was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, and uncle. He was a loyal friend, and a mentor to countless people. He is survived by his Wife of 45 years, Yvonne Heiskell Ward, (whom he married march 16, 1969); two sons and daughter-in-law, Robert Ward III, Jonathan and Jina Ward, all of Cookeville; two daughters and sons-in-law, Melody and Brad Mason of Cookeville, Miranda and Grant Thornbury of Murfreesboro; grandchildren, Wesley Mason, Emelyne Mason , Autumn Lundgren; niece, Cindy (David) Smith; great nephew, Andrew (Missy) Smith of Charlotte; great niece, Sarah Smith of Chicago; special friends, Bobby and Janice Hodum of Cookeville; several beloved cousins; special son in the faith, Elijah Morar his wife Claudia and their son Christian of Oradea, Romania. Active pallbearers will be Sol Ward, Frank Ward, Sam Ward, Martin Ward, Howard Edmonds, John Norman. Honorary pallbearers will be Ward cousins. Memorial contributions may be made to Partners In Missions, International (PIMI) 1225 Buckingham Place Cookeville, TN 38501.