James Lawrence Ward

James Lawrence "Jim" Ward, 70, of 25 Laurel Park Drive, Arden, went to be with the Lord on Monday, December 30, 2002, in an Asheville hospital. Mr. Ward was born in Buncombe County and was a son of the late Homer and Pearl Jones Ward. He was an Army veteran and was employed as a customer service engineer with Diebold. He was a member of Biltmore Baptist Church. He loved his family and fought to live for his family including his wife of 30 years Betty Riddle Ward; daughters Sherry Whitted (wife of the late Doc Whitted) of Weaverville, Cindy Dunn and her husband Steve of Leicester, and Denise Cody and her husband Tim of Swannanoa; two step-daughters, Teresa Warren and her husband Joe Bob of Candler and Veronica Long and her husband John of Enka; a sister, Geneva Hart and her husband Bill of Oakley; seven grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; a step-granddaughter Misty Fuller and her husband Keith of Swannanoa; and six step-great-grandchildren. Jim fought hard for months during his illness and his family realizes how sick he was. He was a special person and will be sadly missed by his family who loved him dearly. Funeral services will be at 2:00 pm Friday in the Patton Avenue chapel of Groce Funeral Home with the Revs. Charles Shelton and Carl Mintz officiating. Entombment will be at Pisgah View Memorial Park Mausoleum. His family will receive friends from 7 - 8:30 pm Thursday at the funeral home and at other times will be at 25 Laurel Park Drive, Arden.