Ward D. Turner, 79, Gas City, went to be with the Lord on Thursday morning, December 7, 2023. He was surrounded by his wife and children after a nearly three-year battle with glioblastoma brain cancer. Ward was born in Marion, Indiana, on Monday, December 13, 1943, to Charles and Violet (Pratt) Turner.
Ward was a loving husband of 56 years to his wife, Marcia and a beloved, kind and wise father and grandfather to his four children, their spouses and fourteen grandchildren. He was a quiet, unassuming and down-to-earth, hardworking man who loved the Lord and was a lifelong student of the Bible.
Ward graduated from Mississinewa High School in 1961, and after farming with his father, he graduated from Moody Bible Institute in 1968, attended Grace College and graduated from Taylor University in 1971. In 1993, he received his master’s in counseling from Liberty University and was licensed by the State of Indiana as a mental Health Counselor.
As revealed by Ward’s experiences, he was a multi-talented man who endeavored to do well. From his teenage years when he began teaching the youth Sunday School class at his church, Ward desired to study, teach and preach God’s Word. Before being ordained to the Christian ministry in 1992, he served as the Associate Pastor of Union Chapel Baptist Church for many years. He was the worship leader and choir director, staffed and supervised many volunteer workers, served on the church board, taught adult Sunday school classes and directed a live radio broadcast with the Pastor. Ward’s teaching ministry led him to Malawi, Africa three times to teach in the Pastor’s Conference for Gospelink.
All his adult life, Ward was a carpenter and builder. He used those skills to start a carpentry school in Malawi. He felt very blessed to use his God-given ability as the project manager for the 2002 building addition to his church, Upland Community Church. Ward was known to use his carpentry experience to help family, friends and organizations including Helping Hand food pantry and Lightrider Ministries in Upland.
Ward was the owner of FCI Builders with the Bonanza Builders franchise for 18 years. Over 40 young men “got their start” under his guidance. During this time, he was also a part-time deputy Marshall in Upland.
He was a counselor for 35 years, working in private practice and in counseling centers in Ft. Wayne, Kokomo, Logansport and at the Grant County Rescue Mission. Ward provided individual, family and crisis counseling, helping many people. During these years, Ward was also a FEMA reservist, working 15 years during many stateside disasters and in Puerto Rico. He was assigned as an individual assistance specialist or crisis counseling/disaster unemployment/legal services program specialist.
Ward was a member of Upland Community Church, was an American Psychotherapy Association Diplomat and a certified relationship specialist, a charter member of the American Association of Christian Counselors, member of Christian Professional Counselors, achieved Level II EMDR training and was a member of several counseling referral agencies including Focus on the Family. In 2009, he received appreciation from Indiana Family and Social Services Administration Division of Mental Health and Addiction for serving Indiana Project Aftermath FEMA Crisis Counseling program.
In addition to his wife, Marcia, Ward is survived by son, Mark (Julie) Turner of Granger; daughters, Anne (Don) Wierenga of Granger; Carol (Mark) Jones of Loveland, Ohio; Amy (Andrew) Kellogg of Fishers; grandchildren, Jeffrey, Katherine, Nathan Turner; Ethan (Aubrei), Grace, Ava, Carter, Mason Wierenga; Savannah and Benjamin Jones; Juliana, Molly and Drew Kellogg; brother, James (Rosemary) Turner; sister, Dixie Abbott; as well as many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Charles and Violet Turner; sister, Sue Artherhults; brother-in-law, Frank Artherhults; brother-in-law, Douglas Abbott; and nephew, Steven Turner.
The family will receive visitors from 12:00 noon to 2:00 pm on Wednesday, December 13, 2023, at Upland Community Church, 439 W. Berry Ave., Upland, IN.
Immediately following the time of visitation, a service to celebrate Ward’s life will begin at 2:00 pm with Rev. David Anderson officiating. Burial will take place at a later date at Jefferson Cemetery in Upland.
Memorial contributions may be directed to Cancer Services of Grant County 305 S. Norton., Marion, IN 46952.
Memories may be shared online at www.nswcares.com.
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