Brother Bill Ward passes away.

John William (Bill) Ward, 75, passed away on Saturday, Jan. 9, 2010, at Rowan Regional Medical Center in Salisbury.

Bill was born in Galax, Va. and from the time he entered National Business College in 1951, he was meant to be in the furniture business.

His career began at Johnson Carper Furniture Company in Roanoke, Va. where in 1965, he became the General Manager after the company was acquired by Singer Furniture.

In 1974, he was transferred to Atlanta, Ga., as the Vice-President of Sales for Singer Furniture at its corporate offices.

After leaving Singer, he continued in the furniture industry, serving for a time as a board member of the American Furniture Manufacturers' Association.

For the past 18 years, he served as President of Carter Furniture Company in Salisbury, N.C. He cherished the friends and neighbors he had in Salisbury and considered them a part of his family. Bill was a gregarious story teller, a loyal friend and a loving family man.

He is predeceased by his father and mother, Mr. Emmette and Cecil Ward; and one sister, Rowena Manning.

Those left to cherish his memory are his wife, Marie Carey Ward, of Atlanta, Ga.; his son, Stephen Ward and his wife, Julie, of Orlando, Fla.; daughters, Susan Holland and her husband, Randy of Atlanta, Ga. and Anne Marie Rossier and her husband, Ross of Mason, Ohio. His grandchildren were such a special part of his life. They are Dylan, Abby and Desi Holland; Shelby and Tanner Ward and Richard, Jackson and Thomas Rossiter. He is also survived by three sisters, Georgia Webb (Ted), Ann Largin (Montie) and Pat Rollison (John); one brother, Dale Ward; his mother-in-law, Ruth Carey; his brother-in-laws, Jim Carey (Jo), Mike Carey (Dot) and Richard Carey; three great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Visitation: The family will receive friends on Tuesday, Jan. 12, from 12-2 p.m. at Summersett Funeral Home, 1315 W. Innes St. Salisbury, NC 28144.

Services: A Memorial Service celebrating Mr. Ward's life will be held at 2 p.m. on Tuesday at Summersett Memorial Chapel.

A Graveside service will be held on Wednesday, Jan. 13 at Oakland United Methodist Church Cemetery in Galax, Va. at 11 a.m.

Memorials: In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the charity of the donor's choice.