Kenneth T. Ward

Kenneth T. Ward, of Franklinville died Friday, September 24, 2010 after a brief illness at Randolph Hospital, six days after celebrating his 95th birthday. Kenneth was a native of Randolph County, growing up in on a tobacco farm near Randleman. He graduated from Providence High School in 1934 and was the last survivor of the Randleman Basketball team of 1934. In the early 30's during the depression he took his first job, with a sawmill, earning 7 cents per hour. After graduation, he joined the Civilian Conservation corps, known as CCC camp, building roads in the NC mountains in Topton, NC. Mr. Ward started work with J. P. Stevens in July of 1937, as an up-twister operator at the Greensboro Plant (then known as Carter Fabrics). In 1958, he accepted a position with the Technical Department as a member of the Yarn Development Lab and became manager of the Lab in 1971. While with the Technical Department, Mr. Ward worked on manufacturing problems with various novelty yarns including the first fiberglass yarns as they were adapted to drapery fabric; quartz yarns used by the Air Force as solar panels; astroquartz yarns used by NASA as heat deflector shields in space capsules; and Kevlar, a high strength yarn used in such applications as bullet-proof vests. In September of 1980, Mr. Ward retired from J.P. Stevens with forty-three years of service. He was a devoted member of Bethany United Methodist Church where he held numerous positions until the time of his death. Mr. Ward was preceded in death by his wife Virginia Williams Ward on January 14, 2010. He is survived by daughters, Judith W. Newell and her husband David (Babe) Newell of McLeansville, JoAnne W. Higgins of Asheboro, Regina W. Allen and her husband Larry Allen of Pleasant Garden; grandchildren, Kelly Kernodle of McLeansville, Jennifer Higgins of Denton, Shannon Allen of Pleasant Garden, Suzy Allen of Pleasant Garden, Jon Allen of Pleasant Garden; great grandchildren, Avery Cox of McLeansville, Brianna Kernodle of McLeansville; step grandson, Craig Allen of Greensboro; sister, Dorothy W. Voncannon of Asheboro. The family will receive friends Sunday from 2-4:00 pm at Pugh Funeral Home, 600 S. Main St., Randleman. Funeral services will be held Sunday at 5:00 pm at Bethany United Methodist Church with Rev. Dr. Russell Brownworth officiating. Mr. Ward will be placed in the church 30 minutes prior to the service. Burial will follow in the church cemetery. The family would like to express special thanks to Dr. Greg Grisso, Dr. Tanvir Chodri, Dr. Richard Evans and the doctors, nurses, and staff of the progressive care unit at Randolph Hospital for the care given to Kenneth during his illness. Flowers are welcome or memorials may be made to the Bethany United Methodist Church Cemetery Fund, 3650 Bethany Church Road, Franklinville, NC 27248.