The Rev. William Raymond Beard

The Rev. William Raymond Beard, 91, passed away Thursday, Dec. 29, 2011, at the V.A. Hospital in Lexington.

He was born Feb. 5, 1922, in Louisville to the late Walter and Anna Shofner Beard.

He was a Navy veteran of World War II. The Rev. Beard served as pastor of the following churches, Round Top, Locust Grove and Valley Creek Baptist in Elizabethtown; Muldraugh Hill Baptist in Lebanon; Mackville Baptist in Mackville; Temple Baptist in Xenia, Ohio; Beaver Creek Baptist in Dayton, Ohio; East Union Baptist in Graham; Lowell Ave. Baptist in Campbellsville; and Austin Village Baptist in Warren, Ohio. He also served as Taylor County Baptist Director of Missions.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Walter and Anna Beard; and three sisters, Juanita, Marjorie and Dorothy Beard.

He is survived by his wife, Frances Niceley Beard; two daughters, Anna (Roger) Weddle and Marilyn (Mitch) Ash; four grandchildren, Leanne, Chip (Brandi), Angela Weddle and Aaron Ash; and two great-grandsons, Quinn and Asher Weddle.

The funeral was Monday, Jan. 2, at Lake Cumberland Funeral Home in Somerset with Brother Mitch Ash, Brother Roger Weddle and Brother Bill Dawson presiding. Burial was in Mill Springs National Cemetery in Nancy. American Legion Post No. 38 Honor Guard provided military honors.

A memorial service was Sunday, Feb. 5, at Lowell Avenue Baptist Church in Campbellsville.

The family requests donations be made in the memory of the Rev. Beard to Gideons International, P.O. Box 27, Somerset, KY 42502.

Lake Cumberland Funeral Home handled arrangements.