Retha (Clark) Ward

GREENVILLE, Mo. — Retha L. (Clark) Ward, 94, of Poplar Bluff, formerly of Greenville, passed away Saturday, July 13, 2019, at Oakdale Assisted Living in Poplar Bluff. Mrs. Ward was born October 4, 1924, in Greenville, to Lee and Ollie (Bollinger) Clark. She married Frank Ward on December 24, 1943.

In her younger years, Retha enjoyed camping, traveling and the outdoors. Retha and Frank owned and operated Ward’s Café in Greenville for many years before moving to St. Louis where she worked at McDonnell Douglas. With an enthusiasm to help others, she went to work at the Wayne County Health Department until her working career ended. Retha was a member of New Prospect Baptist Church in Silva. She was a nurturing, social butterfly that everyone loved, and she loved everyone. She will be greatly missed by her family and friends.

Retha is survived by one daughter, Denise Schuerenberg and husband, Paul, of Poplar Bluff; eleven grandchildren; 21 great-grandchildren; two great-great-grandchildren; one sister, Shelby Gann and husband, Gary, of DeSoto, Mo.

In addition to her parents, she is preceded in death by her loving husband of sixty-three years; a daughter, Donna Thornburgh; a son, Danny Ward; a grandson, Jimmy Stone; a great-great-grandchild, Archie Hankins; and brothers, Paul and Franklin Clark.

Visitation will be at 5 p.m., Friday, July 19 at Ruegg Funeral Home in Greenville. The funeral will follow at 11 a.m. Saturday, July 20 at the Greenville chapel, with pastors Gary Gann, Jr., and Julie Skaggs, nephew and niece of Retha, officiating. Burial will be in New Prospect Cemetery. Online condolences: www.rueggfuneralhomes.com

Paid