JACKSON — Services for Howard B. Ward Jr., age 86, of Jackson will be at 3:30 today at Forest Lawn Memory Gardens in Meridian with the Rev. Warren Hedgepeth officiating. Barham Funeral Home of Meridian has charge of arrangements.

Mr. Ward, a loving father and grandfather, was a ham radio operator and a World War II U.S. Army veteran. He was a retired officer with the Mississippi Department of Corrections.

He passed away at the G.V. “Sonny” Montgomery Veterans Administration Medical Center in Jackson Tuesday, Oct. 12, 2010.

Survivors include his children, Patricia Sudduth and husband Duff of Madison, Debra Price and husband Marty of Meridian and Sheila Hudspeth and husband Allen of Vicksburg; grandchildren, Ginna Cavender and husband Matt of Roswell, Ga., Ashley Williamson and husband Jason of Meridian, Dillon Sudduth of Meridian, Laura Hudspeth of Birmingham and Seth Hudspeth of Vicksburg; great-grandchildren, Macie Catherine Cavender and Ava Lauryn Williamson; and sister, Virginia Keith and husband Joe of Clinton.

He was preceded in death by his spouse, Verma Virginia Ward; a grandson, Christopher Knight; and parents, Grace and Bennett Ward.

Visitation will be one hour before the service at the funeral home.