Cleburn Wayne Ward

Cleburn Wayne Ward (C.W.), born September 27, 1925 in Loraine, TX, died Tuesday, March 31, 2015 in Las Cruces, NM. He was the son of Allen Rodney and Della Haggerton Chamness. He married his lifelong partner and best friend, Virginia Lee Bailey, on November 6, 1952. At a young age, C.W. lived in Arkansas and later, as a teenager, moved to Lisbon, LA. In March 1943, at age 17, he entered the Navy. He served on a PT Tender in the South Pacific. After leaving the Navy in 1946, he worked at various jobs in Texas. He finally landed in Las Cruces in 1948 and started his auto mechanic career. C.W.'s first job as a mechanic in Las Cruces was at Rio Grande Motors, which then became Turrentine Chevrolet. In 1958, when Turrentine dealership became Roark Chevrolet, he moved into the Service Manager position. As Service Manager, he received numerous awards for "Outstanding Service Manager." C.W. continued in the manager position until he left Phil Reed Chevrolet in 1975 and established CW Ward & Son, with his family. He retired from the family business (which he did so reluctantly, because of the multitude of loyal customers he had served for many years) in 2001 at 76 years of age. In the 1960's he pioneered one of the first classes to teach women automotive technology. The class was called Gas, Gaskets and Glamour. He was the first to employ females in the automotive service industry as pickup and delivery personnel. Through his association with Chevrolet, he was instrumental in starting the Soap Box Derby in Las Cruces, and helped to establish the Vintage Car Club. Over the years, in his spare time, he danced with the Blue Bells Square Dance Club and the Western Swingers. He was Scout Master for Boy Scout Troop 72. He volunteered for Conlee PTA, LCHS Band Parents (1970's), MHS Band Parents (2000's) as well as many other school activities. He was active in University United Methodist Church, Beta Sigma Phi, and the Three Crosses RV Group. C.W. enjoyed camping and fishing, but his favorite activity was restoring antique cars, including his first car, a 1936 Ford Coupe. C.W. is survived by his wife of 62 years, Virginia Ward; son Cleburn Wayne Ward Jr. (Wayne), wife Judy; daughter Cynthia Ward Mauldin, husband Kevin; grandchildren Cleburn Wayne Ward III (C.W. III), wife Jana, children Jarek and Tyler; Erin Ward Stanley, husband David, child Elizabeth; Whitney Lee Mauldin, fiance Jerry; brother Rodney Chamness (Cathy); sister Lynda Johnston (Shug). He is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews as well as many friends. C.W. was preceded in death by his parents; brothers John C. Ward, Howard D. Chamness, James B. Ward, Raymond H. Chamness and Glen Chamness; sisters Ruth Ward Huddleston and Estelle Ward McGee. A celebration of life will be held Monday, April 6, 2015 at 10:30 am, University United Methodist Church, 2000 S. Locust Street. Burial will follow at Hillcrest Memorial Gardens. The family would like to give a special Thank-You to Dr. Kim Miller, Dr. Kathleen Hales, Dr. Robert Kolosseus, MMC Home Health and Mesilla Valley Hospice. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Mesilla Valley Hospice. PDF Printable Version