L. Ray Ward

L. Ray Ward, who was born on April 1, 1929, in Dallas, died in his Dallas home on December 27, 2010. Ray attended North Dallas High School and graduated from SMU in 1950 with a B.S. in Journalism. Shortly thereafter Ray joined the Galveston Daily News as a cub reporter. In Galveston, Ray trained under two outstanding newspapermen, Jack D’Armand and Tom Mulvaney.

The Korean War interrupted Ray’s newspaper days. He joined the army and was stationed at Fort Bliss in El Paso and in Germany. After the war, Ray was a reporter for the San Antonio Light.

Thereafter, he embarked on a career in public relations and advertising in Dallas, Ft. Worth, San Antonio, and St. Louis. From 1962 until 1992, Ray held executive positions with Dallas Power & Light and with Texas Utilities.

Active in numerous trade associations, Ray also served as president of the Dallas Press Club and chairman of its Gridiron Committee. He also was president of the Dallas Advertising League, and a recipient of its Anvil Award for excellence in public relations. The Texas Public Relations Society honored Ray with its Silver Spur Award for distinguished service. Ray was also a board member of the Texas Tech University Foundation and the Mass Communications Advisory committee. Ray was a loyal member of the Preston North Lions Club.

Ray was described by a friend as a “great guy and a great friend.”

Ray was a lifelong devotee of classical music and a regular at performances of the Dallas Opera. Ray passed his love of opera to his children and grandchildren who each attended several operas with him.

In 2005, Ray’s wife of 52 years, Betty Blankenship Ward, died. Ray leaves his son, James Stephens Ward of Garland; daughter, Catharine Louise Ward of Dallas; and grandchildren James Michael Ward, 25, of Dallas; Jenna Marie Ward, 22, of Norman, OK; and Cameron Ronald Ray Sanders, 20, of Dallas.

In lieu of flowers, contributions are invited to Lovers Lane United Methodist Church.

Visitation will be on Tuesday, January 4th, from 6:00 to 8:00 P.M. at Sparkman Funeral Home.

A Memorial Service will be held on Wednesday, January 5th, at 1:30 P.M. at Lover’s Lane United Methodist Church, 9200 Inwood Rd, Dallas, at the corner of Inwood Rd and Northwest Hwy.

Sparkman Funeral Home

1029 S. Greenville Ave

Richardson, TX 75081

(972) 238-7855