Dave Ward March 2, 1924 - August 7, 2003

      Jesse David "Dave" Ward, 79, of Gainesville, Mo., formerly of Middletown, died at 10:20 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 7, 2003, at the Baxter Regional Medical Center in Gainesville.

      The funeral service will be at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 13 at the Elliott Chapel in New London, with the Rev. Gerald Stouvenel officiating. Burial will be in Pleasant Grove Cemetery in Danville, with military rites by Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 7641 of New London. Visitation will be after noon on Tuesday, Aug. 12 at the chapel, with family present from 6 to 8 p.m. Memorials have been established to St. Mary's Catholic Church, the Ozark Senior Citizens and St. Williams Catholic Church.

      Survivors include his wife; four sons, Joseph and his wife Vicki Ward of Saginaw, Texas, Charles and his wife Micke Ward of Middletown, Thomas and his wife Patricia Ward, and Monte and his wife Shelly Ward, all of Burlington; four daughters, Cindy Numann and Linda Ward, both of Burlington, Marjorie Ward of Danville, and Theresa Huebner of Fulton, Ill.; 14 grandchildren; and four sisters, Mae Ward of Heber Springs, Ark., Ruth Sukow of Ocala, Fla., June Kieleber of Willis Point, Texas, and Dolly Rutherford of Canton, Mo.

      He was preceded in death by his parents, three brothers and three sisters.