William Ward Allen died at his home in Ashland City, Tenn. on May 4, 2023. He was preceded in death by his mother, Mary Allen; his father, C.L. Allen; and his stepmother, Joyce Sams Allen. He is survived by his sister, Catherine Link and her husband, Kirby Pate of Nashville; his brother, Charlie Allen and his wife, Mary of Dryden, Va.; and his sister, Clare Weidlocher and her husband, Dave of Lebanon.. He is survived by his children, Ward Allen, Jr. and his wife, Leah and his stepdaughter, Morgan Day of Ashland City, his daughter, Jennifer Hartson of Nashville, his daughter, Linda Sok of Nashville and his son, Walker Allen of Lebanon. He also has 2 grandchildren that survive him, Lathon Allen of Hendersonville, N.C. and Violet Hartson of Nashville. He will be sorely missed by his cousin, Bob Willliams of Dallas along with his many nieces and nephews and their children who knew Uncle Ward for his many pontoon boat rides, always knowing the best place to get a good meal, his great hugs and infectious smile.

Ward was born feet-first and in a hurry on May 22, 1969 in McMinnville. He was always drawn to anything fast. His stroller pushed at breakneck speed down Ross Ave., a red bicycle, a skateboard, skiing behind a boat at Rock Island, and any kind of boat or car. He had so many of both it was always hard to keep count of them. He loved the water and his dogs and he never met a river or a lake or had a dog that wasn’t “the best one ever." You could not find a harder worker nor a more generous man, generous to a fault, but his heart was filled with joy and kindness. He had four wives, all of whom gave him very important gifts - Lane, who gave him his two oldest children, Navie who gave his his two youngest children, Pam who gave him the gift of understanding how important his sobriety was and Betty, who gave him the gift of extended life thru her excellent nursing care. His family were the beneficiaries of nine extra special years of life with Ward after a liver transplant and the excellent medical care he received over those years from the Vanderbilt Transplant Service. We were lucky. There will be a service for the burial of the dead, officiated by Rev. William Dennler, Church of the Holy Trinity, 615 6th Ave. South, Nashville, Tennessee 37203, Saturday, October 28th at 11 a.m. The best memorial for Ward would be to spend some time enjoying your favorite body of water, remembering that this was where Ward was the happiest. You may also make a donation in his memory to The Cumberland River Compact, 35 Peabody St., Unit 305, Nashville, Tn. 37205

Southern Standard

(McMinnville, Tenn.) Oct. 11, 2023