Lilah F. Ward

Lilah Fremont McGuire Ward went home on March 22, 2012 to be with the Savior she so faithfully served. She was born on Dec 8, 1921 to Gladys Irene McGuire and Lewis Fremont McGuire in Idabel, Oklahoma.

She graduated from Idabel high School and then attended Oklahoma Baptist University where she was elected Most Popular Woman on campus. It was at OBU that she met the love of her life, John Ward. They were married on July 22, 1941 and celebrated their 70th anniversary in 2011. They were the proud parents of John Fremont (Monty) Ward, of Oklahoma City and Harmony Jill Ward, of Salem, Oregon who survive her. Other survivors include daughter-in-law, Judy Cole, former daughter-in-law, Louanne Trueblood, two grandchildren, Lance Ward (Jeni) of Edmond and Laura Pope (Matt) of Marlborough, MA. She is also survived by four great-grandchildren, Landon, Haley and Kyle Ward and Zoe Pope, her sister, Patty Collett of Roswell, NM along with several nieces and nephews also survive.

Lilah’s life was filled with service to the Lord, always rendered with joy. From her young life until her death, she knew no greater pleasure than telling others about Jesus. She was currently a member of Highland Hills Baptist Church, where she taught a women’s Sunday School class until a week before her death.

She and John were the very definition of teamwork as they served in Baptist Churches in Oklahoma, Texas, North Carolina and Florida. The Oklahoma churches included Immanuel Baptist Church in Shawnee, First Baptist Church in Seminole, Calvary Church in Tulsa and First Baptist Church of Lawton. Texas churches included several in Dallas, including Lake Highlands Baptist Church, First Baptist Church of Plainview, TX, First Baptist Church San Antonio, and First Baptist Church of Sherman. She was always alongside John, singing in the choir, teaching Sunday School, shepherding youth choir trips and holding the most important job of all: wife and mother.

For the past several years, Lilah and John have resided at the Baptist Village in Oklahoma City, where they organized a senior adult choir, The Singing Saints. For their work in many other ways with the residents of the Village, John and Lilah were recognized as Oklahoma’s Volunteers of the Year in 2010.

Her laughter could light up a room, and her yeast rolls were a legend in her family.

Services will be held Monday, March 26 at 11:30 a.m. at Highland Hills Baptist Church in Oklahoma City

Memorial gifts, in lieu of flowers may be directed to The Baptist Village in Oklahoma City.