Richard “Ric” Daryl Ward, 67, of Douglasville, Georgia, passed away on Saturday, May 17, 2025. Ric was born in Glasgow, Kentucky, on October 13, 1957, the son of the late Sheldon Ward and Beatrice Plumlee Ward.
A man of vast talents and interests, one could not know Ric without acknowledging the legacy he trailed. He defined that legacy by creating award winning music when he toured with Vassar Clements, the Kendalls, and Ronnie McDowell, even earning a gold record for “The King is Gone”; composing the news as a writer, producer, and copy editor for CNN, where he retired and went back to work there again not long after; and raising an incredible family with his wife Lori, who passed November 2022, survived by his daughters Shanna, Casey, and Savannah, and his son Cody, and a host of grandchildren. He truly lived an immeasurably transcendent life.
Ric’s stoic, optimistic nature made an influential impression on everybody around him. He was rarely without a witty, knowing smile, and could respond to the most incredible news breaking at CNN, or the silliest story told to him by an eager grandchild with a charming, “oh, well” or a satisfied “that’s neat”. His colleagues described him as “our algorithm before digital”, “a constant in an ever-evolving business”, and “a calming presence in a stressful atmosphere,” and, less floridly, “a real rock star”, “a terrific person”, and “the best.”
In his retirement from CNN (which didn’t take), he signed off by saying “it’s been real, it’s been fun, and it’s even been real fun.” It feels appropriate to quote him here.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Lori.
Ric is survived by his son; Cody (Adrianna) Ward: daughters; Casey (Andrew) Jordan, Shanna (Matt) Pavlak, and Savannah Ward: brothers; Alan (Bobbi) Ward, Steve (Sue) Ward, and Scott (Lois-Joy) Ward: eleven grandchildren; Aiden, Andrew, Maya, Mia, RD, Avaya, Anna Kate, Jacob, Madeline, Lexi, and Nick.
The family will receive friends at Whitley-Garner at Rosehaven Funeral Home on Friday, May 23, 2025, from 11:00 AM until 1:00 PM.
A Funeral Service will follow in the Chapel of the Funeral Home at 1:00 PM. Interment will follow the service in Rosehaven Memorial Park.
In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting donations be made to the Prevent Cancer Foundation, 333 John Carlyle Street, Suite 635, Alexandria, VA 22314 or online at https://preventcancer.org.
Whitley-Garner at Rosehaven is honored to be entrusted with the services of Mr. Richard “Ric” Daryl Ward.
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