Forrest Joseph Ward, age 82, passed away at St. Thomas hospital in the early evening on Thursday, October Twenty-Sixth. He was a native of Portsmouth, Ohio and was the son of Forrest C. Ward and Flora Cornell Ward. He was preceded in death by both parents and his sister, Barbara. He moved to Murfreesboro in 2006 where he became an active member of St. Mark's United Methodist Church.

Forrest was an executive officer in the Salvation Army for 14 years before joining the Boy Scouts of America where he served as an executive director until his retirement. In his 40's, he returned to school to get a bachelor's degree from the University of Toledo where he graduated as valedictorian.

Forrest was always active in the communities he lived in, being a member of various service clubs, church committees, and charitable organizations. He especially enjoyed the performing arts and was an accomplished actor in local drama ensembles and a robust tenor in numerous choral groups. He loved to travel and hiked a segment of the Appalachian Trail, visited nearly all of the United States, and toured several European countries.

He is survived by his wife, Eleanor Jones Ward, with whom he recently celebrated 60 years of marriage; four sons and their spouses: Steven and Mary of Murfreesboro, Tennessee, Philip and Patricia of Ballston Spa, New York, David and Joanne of Petersburg, Michigan, and Jay and Laura of Murfreesboro, Tennessee; and six grandchildren: Jade Eleanor Sipes (spouse Will and great-grandchild John Elliot) of Birmingham, Alabama, Darius Magada-Ward of Chicago, Illinois, Phil Foley (spouse Tamara) of Bloomingrove, New York, Abby Ward of Middletown, New York, Andrew Ward (spouse Devon) of Mentor, Ohio, and Meagan Ward of Petersburg, Michigan.

Memorial services will be announced at a later date and will be held at St. Mark's United Methodist Church.

Memorials may be made to St. Mark's United Methodist Church in memory of Mr. Ward.

An online guestbook for the Ward family is available at www.woodfinchapel.com .

Woodfin Memorial Chapel. 615-893-5151.