Ruth Haynes Ward

Longtime Monroe, La., resident Ruth Haynes Ward, 95, passed away January 4, 2024, in Flowood, Miss.

Ruth was born November 26, 1928, in Wilmot, Ark., to Leroy and Belle Haynes. She graduated from Wilmot High School with honors in 1946. After graduation, Ruth enrolled in Henderson State Teachers College in Arkadelphia, Ark., where she met her future husband, Robert Elgin Ward. They were wed November 26, 1947 and remained married until his death in 2001.

Ruth received a Bachelor of Science degree in library science from East Texas State Teachers College in Commerce. She received her master’s degree from Northwestern State College of Louisiana, and the plus 30 from the University of Mississippi.

One of the joys of Ruth’s life was teaching. She taught English and worked as a librarian and counselor at various schools in Arkansas and Louisiana. After retiring from the Ouachita Parish School System in 1976, she continued teaching at River Oaks High School and Ridgedale Academy. During her career, Ruth was a member of Delta Kappa Gamma, Louisiana Teachers Association, Ouachita Parish Teachers Association, and the Society of University Women.

Ruth was actively involved in College Place Baptist Church where she was a sanctuary choir member, taught Sunday School for juniors and young adults, and served as church librarian. She also enjoyed travel, and she and Elgin took several school groups on trips to Europe. Ruth and Elgin were devoted members of WWII veterans and POW organizations, and they visited locations in Europe where he fought and the prison camp in Germany where he was held during the war.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Dr. Robert Elgin Ward; her parents, Leroy and Emily Belle (Sawyer) Haynes; infant sister, Mary Frances Haynes; and three brothers, James Henry Haynes, Dewayne Haynes, and Harold Clayton Haynes. Ruth and Dewayne remained especially close until his death in 2020.

She is survived by her two sons, Robert “Bobby” Elgin Ward Jr. (JoAnn) of Madison, Miss., and Jonathan Connie Ward (Leigh Ann) of Dallas; three grandsons, Bradley Robert Ward, Ryan Christopher Ward, and Heath William Ward; as well as numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, and special friend, Elspie Franklin (Bill).

The family is thankful for the staff at Cooperwood Senior Living and Yana Knight with Heart of Hospice for the care they provided Ruth during the last several months of her life.

Services will be held Thursday, January 11, at Mulhearn Funeral Home, 2308 Sterlington Rd., Monroe, with visitation at 1p.m., followed by the funeral service at 2p.m.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to the Dr. Robert Elgin Ward Educational Scholarship (#92511), ULM Foundation, Laird Weems Center, 700 University Ave., Monroe, LA 71209.