Clara Ward
Clara Thompson Ward of Chattanooga died on Monday, June 23, 2014.
Mrs. Ward and her husband, Clifton, and their friends, Charles and Jean Campbell, came to Chattanooga from West Virginia in 1953 to start Uniform Rental Service. The Campbells soon moved to Atlanta to expand the company there. Under the guidance of the Wards, Uniform Rental grew from its beginnings in Chattanooga until 1986 when Mr. And Mrs. Ward sold their part of the company and retired from active involvement in the business. At that time, Uniform Rental Service had plants or warehouses in Chattanooga, Atlanta, Birmingham, Cookeville, Tn., and Laurel, Ms. It had earlier built and sold plants in Louisiana and Kentucky.
Mrs. Ward was born in Louisa, Ky., was one of five children of Jacob and Ida Hayes Thompson. She attended Marshall University in Huntington, W.V.
She is survived by one sister, Betty Potter of Baton Rouge, La., and a brother, Ray Burns Thompson of Spring Hill, Fl.
She was preceded in death by a brother, Willard” Buddy” Thompson and a sister, Agnes Ann Bosworth.
Other survivors include several nieces and nephews and great nieces and nephews.
Her positive influence touched many people through the years. Particularly through her work with young couples at Brainerd Baptist Church, and the children at Bethel Bible Village, two of whom “adopted” the Wards for parental guidance.
Clara and Clifton were active in Chattanooga business, charitable and civic life for more than 50 years. Their support was vital to the move of Bethel Bible Village from Signal Mountain to Hixson. Other charitable organizations that benefited from the involvement and resources include Tennessee Baptist Children’s Homs, John Hagai Ministries, Foreign Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention, and the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga where the funds for the elevator at the football stadium were contributed by the Wards. At Carson-Newman College, an endowment was established by them to provide scholarships for students planning to go into missions work. After Clifton’s death in 1992, Clara continued to support and provide encouragement to many of their favorite charities.
Mrs. Ward was a member of Brainerd Baptist Church where, for many years, she served in the Young Adults Sunday School Department and as secretary of the Women of Missions, The Senior Adults of the church will always remember with fondness Clara’s generosity in providing a 46-passenger bus which is still used primarily for travel by the group, known as “the Keenagers”.
Funeral services will be held on Monday, June 30, at 10:30 a.m. at the East Chapel of Chattanooga Funeral Home with Reverend George Clark and Reverend Steve Rowland officiating. Interment will follow in the Chattanooga National Cemetery.
The family will receive friends at the funeral home from 9:30-10:30 a.m. on Monday, June 30.
Memorial donations may be made to the Tennessee Baptist Children’s Home, P.O. Box 10, Spring Hill, Tn. 37174, or Bethel Bible Village, P.O. Box 729, Hixson, Tn. 37343 in memory of Mrs. Ward.
Please share your thoughts and memories at www.chattanoogaeastchapel.com.
Arrangements are by Chattanooga Funeral Home, Crematory and Florist, East Chapel 404 South Moore Road, Chattanooga.