Services for McKinley "Skinny" Ward, age 77, of Rentz will be held at 1:00 PM Wednesday, December 21, in the Chapel of Townsend Brothers Funeral Home. Rev. Tom Vann will officiate. Burial will follow in Cedar Grove United Methodist Church Cemetery. Mr. Ward died Friday, December 16, 2011. Mr. Ward was born and raised in Georgia. He attended Cedar Grove grade school and worked as a farmer in Laurens County. In 1957, he was drafted into the Army. After he was honorably discharged, he moved to Ohio and worked as a truck driver. A year later he moved to Florida where he started working as a tree surgeon, later transferring to Tennessee. In 1962, he married the love of his life, Carol, who he met while living in Ohio. In 1964, they moved to Rome, Georgia. After retiring from the tree business, they moved back to Laurens County, where he resided until his death. Mr. Ward was preceded in death by his parents, Eddie Burton Ward and Lilla Mae Davidson Ward and several aunts, uncles, and cousins. He is survived by his wife, Carol S. Ward, of Rentz; daughters, Tina M. Ward, of Rome, Tammy Ward, of Rentz, and Terri (Graham) Lawson, of Midville; grandsons, Marc Tanner, Matt Tanner, Pvt. Andrew M. Tanner, Billy Hurt, Mack Langdale, and Kasee Graham Lawson; brothers and sisters, Eura Lee Browning, Gene (Betty) Ward, Randal (Francis) Ward, Rosetta Ussery, Evelene Warren, Glenda (Joe) Kinchens, Nelda (Bobby) Graham, and Marsha (Dean) Graham; and a number of nieces and nephews. Marc Tanner, Matt Tanner, Private Andrew M. Tanner, Mack Langdale, Marty Graham, and Burt Graham will serve as pallbearers. The family will be at the home of Carol Ward, 1223 Coleman Register Road, Rentz and will receive friends at Townsend Brothers Funeral Home from 12:00 PM until the funeral hour..