Cecil "Buddy" E. Ward, Jr.

He was born August 10, 1924 in Lebanon, TN. He was preceded in death by his wife Bessie Bush Ward, parents Cecil E Ward, Sr. and Zella Oakley Ward; sister Sarah Casey, all of Nashville, TN and brother Jack Ward of Tulsa, OK.

He is survived by daughter Lisa Ward-Smith (Scott) of Franklin, TN; grandson Hunter Ward Smith of Brooklyn, NY; sister Shirley Woodard of Old Hickory, TN; many cousins, nieces, nephews, and great nieces and nephews.

Growing up in Nashville, Cecil saw many changes over his 94 years. His first job was as an usher at the movie theater. He loved watching movies. He played high school football but was sidelined in his junior year when he broke his collar bone during a game. He graduated from West End High School, Nashville, TN in 1943 and was immediately drafted into the Army. Cecil served as a Medium Tank Commander in the C 738th Tank Battalion during World War II. He received specialized artillery training which was implemented in every major battle in Central Europe: Battle of the Bulge where they guarded a mountain pass during the coldest winter on record and his team apprehended over 100 German soldiers; Remagen Bridge where he led the first tank across the bridge with a pin light after the Germans’ failed attempt to blow up the bridge; Normandy Beach which lists his name on the memorial plaque; and in Paris on D Day. Following the war, he was stationed at a German concentration camp to protect the Jews who were freed but were to weak to leave. Before returning home, he was selected for security of a special entourage to the Vatican to meet with the Pope Pius XIII.

Upon returning to the states, Cecil attended Vanderbilt University and graduated from Sparta College of Aeronautics in Tulsa, OK. After a short career in the airline industry he returned to Nashville and joined his father in the family grocery business Pic N Pac Market. He worked there until it closed in 1978. He the assumed the position of office manager for the Department of Employment Security Unemployment Office on Hayes Street. He retired from the TN state government in 1993.

Since retiring Cecil became heavily involved the Nashville Rose Society serving as President in 1992. He became a Certified Master Gardener in 1997, receiving Volunteer of the Month commendations in 2000 & 2001. He was involved in many horticulture projects around Middle TN including Cheekwood and Grassmere.

In 1995 TN Governor Phil Bredesen recognized Cecil for making a difference in his community. Between 1993 and 2010, he served on the Brentwood, TN Park Board and Tree Committee. In 1999 he served on the Brentwood 2020 Plan. In 2012 he was presented with a Bronze Honor Medal for Outstanding Service by the American Rose Society. He was an active member of his church Crievewood Baptist in Nashville. He was a true man of God.

Visitation will be held from six until eight o’clock in the evening on Tuesday the 26th of February 2019 at the Woodlawn Funeral Home, 660 Thompson Lane, Nashville, TN.

A Grave side service with Military Honors will be held at three o’clock in the afternoon on Wednesday, the 27th of February 2019 Woodlawn Memorial Park with visitation held 2 hours prior to the service. Woodlawn Funeral Home.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial contributions be sent to the Nashville Rose Society or Tunnel to Towers Foundation.