Helen Louise Ward

Helen L. Ward, 68, of Oologah died at 9:45 p.m. Monday at St. John Medical Center in Tulsa.

A Funeral Service will be held on Friday, April 11 at 2:00 p.m. at the First Baptist Church in Oologah with Pastor Ben Williams of First United Methodist Church of Oologah as the officiant. Burial will be at the Memorial Park Cemetery in Tulsa immediately following the service. Helen loved singing from an early age. She participated in school choir and later Church choir for most of her adult life. The memorial service “A Celebration in Song” will be dedicated to her love of music.

Helen was born on November 13, 1939, in Nowata, OK to the late Roy and Jewel Berry. She received her education in Nowata, graduating in 1958. She attended Bartlesville Business College where she received a secretarial certificate. She was employed for 25 years in the bookkeeping department at Victory National Bank in Nowata. She then worked at Saks Fifth Avenue and Dillard’s Department Stores in Tulsa and retired in 2001.

Helen and Gary Ward were married in 1982 and moved to Oologah where they lived for 26 years. She enjoyed spending time with and spoiling her grandchildren, never telling them no. Her missionary work with the ladies of the First United Methodist Church helped her live out a dream. Last year she and Gary charted and completed a cross country sightseeing trip through the panhandle of Oklahoma with Yellowstone as their destination.

Survivors include her husband, Gary of the home, one Son, Rick Black and his wife Julie of Oologah. Two step sons, Gary and Tracy Ward of Tulsa. One Brother, Charles Berry of Tulsa, three sisters, Margie Pierce and Jan Wyrick of Nowata and Erville Orndorff of Bartlesville. One granddaughter, Bailey Black and two grandsons, Drake Black and Weston Wofford of Oologah. Four step granddaughters, one step great grandson and a host of relatives and friends. She was preceded in death by her father and mother and three brothers, Eugene, Warren and K.B. Berry.

In Lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to a charity of your choice or the building fund of The First United Methodist Church of Oologah.

Services are under the direction of Oologah Dolton Funeral Home.

Visitation: Wednesday, April 9, 2008 from 12:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. and Thursday, April 10, 2008 from 9:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m. at Oologah Dolton Funeral Home.

Funeral Service: 2:00 p.m., Friday, April 11, 2008 at the First Baptist Church, Oologah, with Pastor Ben Williams officiating . Interment will follow at Memorial Park Cemetery, Tulsa.