Marie Edith Ward, 76, daughter of Charles Edmond and Martha Olus (Williams) Pinkston, was born May 8, 1932, on the Pinkston homestead near Roubidoux, Mo. She died April 11, 2009, at Texas County Memorial Hospital in Houston, Mo.
Edith married Kenny Ward on October 1, 1949, in the First Baptist Church, Houston, Mo.
She was preceded in death by her husband and parents; one sister, Vivian McComas; an infant brother, James Archie; and one grandson, Kris Ward.
She is survived by one daughter, Charlotte Neal and husband Lexey of Success, Mo.; three sons, Larry and wife Dawn of Houston, Mo., Jeff of Ellis Prairie, Mo., and Joey and wife Terisa of Houston, Mo.; an aunt, Helen Benson of Licking, Mo.; seven grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; a niece; four nephews; and many other relatives and friends.
Edith went to school at Gladden and Licking. The family moved to Wendell, Idaho, in 1946 and returned in 1948. She worked at International Shoe factory in 1949, where she started dating Kenny. After marrying they moved to Bakersfield, Calif., in 1950. They returned in 1951 to Houston and the shoe factory, where she worked from time to time while Kenny was in the Navy. She would always go to California to be with him when he was in port, usually six months at a time.
When Kenny was discharged from the Navy in 1955, they returned to Houston and she never worked outside the home again. She enjoyed her family, fishing, traveling, reading, painting crafts, singing in Kenny’s bands and numerous other hobbies and activities.
They made their home and raised their family near Success, Mo., for 49 years. She was a wonderful mother and grandmother and will be greatly missed.
Family suggests in lieu of flowers, memorials be made to Kids Across America, P.O. Box 930, Branson, MO 65615 or at wwwkidsacrossamerica.org or to the Oakland Cemetery. Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.evansfh.com.
Services are 2 p.m. Thursday, April 16, 2009, at First Christian Church with David Ingalls officiating. Pallbearers are Donald Benson, Ronnie Pinkston, Dean Pinkston, Lonnie Ward, Bob Biram and Benny Haney. Visitation was from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Wednesday, April 15, 2009, at Evans Funeral Home. Burial will be in the Oakland Cemetery under the direction of Evans Funeral Home.