Eldridge Cecil Ward

Eldridge Cecil Ward, 102, of Coal City, West Virginia, went home to be with the Lord and be forever young with his Savior Jesus Christ on Wednesday, February 22, 2023. He was born on August 8, 1920, to the late Wilmer Ward and Letha Ward. He was preceded in death by his wife of 66 years, Mary Louise Ward; and his step siblings, Anna Stanley, Oral Vest, Otis Vest, Clara Arthur, Ona Hayden, Dexter Adkinson, and Cleo Lilly.

Left to cherish his memory are children: Sandra Gail Piercy and her husband Jerry, of Coal City, West Virginia; Pamela Sue Hanshaw of Lakeland, Florida; and Gregory Cecil Ward, and his wife Brenda, of Coal City, West Virginia. Grandchildren: Jerry Dale Piercy, and his wife, Krista Piercy, of Grandview, West Virginia; Kimberly Blackburn, and her husband, Darrell Blackburn, of Coal City, West Virginia; Jeffrey Hanshaw, and his wife, Kimberly Hanshaw, of Lakeland, Florida; Wendy Hanshaw, of Lakeland, Florida; Marcus Hanshaw, or Gainesville, Florida; and Gavin Ward, of Beckley, West Virginia. Great-grandchildren: Colton Blackburn, of Coal City, West Virginia; Haley Piercy, of Grandview, West Virginia; Jefferson Hanshaw, of Lakeland, Florida; Nilah Hanshaw, of Lakeland, Florida; Stratford Hanshaw, of Lakeland, Florida; Robert Thompson of Lakeland, Florida; Tristan Enriquez of Lakeland, Florida; Marlena Enriquez, of Lakeland, Florida; and James Bracewell-Hanshaw, of Lakeland, Florida. Great-great-grandchild: Misha Thompson, of Lakeland, Florida. His two dogs, Buddy and Copper.

Eldridge Cecil was a beloved husband and father, and grandfather. He enjoyed spending time with his family, going boating, four-wheeling, going out to eat, hunting and fishing. He enjoyed attending the Senior Friends Lunch weekly at the Stoco Community Center.

Eldridge Cecil was a World Ward II Army veteran. He served in the 108^th Ordnance Medium Maintenance Company in the Asian Pacific Theater. He was a retired Coal Miner who was a proud member of the United Mine Workers of America.

A celebration of his life will be at 2pm, Tuesday, February 28, 2023, at Calfee Funeral Home, 800 S. Oakwood Ave., Beckley, West Virginia. Visitation with the family will be two hours prior to the services. In lieu of flowers, the family requests you make a donation to Hospice in his memory, whose address is 454 Cranberry Drive, Beckley, West Virginia 25801.