Updated: 06 Sep 2009

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WARD, Charles Richard, Jr.
Sapulpa Herald, Creek Co., OK
06-01-1990
By the Herald Staff

Sapulpan drowns in area lake

An 18 year-old Sapulpa man drowned Thursday at Lake Keystone while celebrating the last day of school, according to officials.

Authorities said Charles Richard Ward, Jr., 18, 125 N. Gray, was one of a group of approximately 35 Sapulpa students who went to the Sandy Beach area of the lake shortly after noon.

At about 1:50 pm, a group of four or five boys were swimming from the beach to a nearby cove. One member of the group began having difficulties swimming. The others, including Ward, begin swimming toward him when Ward went down. Witnesses said Ward came up one time, flailing his arms and calling for help, and then went down again. Group members tried to find Ward, but were unable to do so in the five to 10-foot water.

Ward’s body was recovered from the lake at approximately 3:30 pm.

Mannford Chief of Police Orlin White said "there was some beer out there but as far as the deceased, I don’t know whether he had been drinking or not". White also said it was a "typical day on the lake for a bunch of kids that turned tragic."

Sapulpa High School officials said Ward was formerly a student, but was not enrolled in school at the time of his death.

WARD, Ricky
Sapula Herald, Creek Co., OK
06-03-1990
Obit has photo

Charles Richard Ward, 18 died Thursday in a drowning accident at Lake Keystone.

Services will be 1 pm Tuesday at Mount Olive Baptist Church.

Burial will be at North Heights Cemetery under the direction of Nash-Jackson Funeral Home of Tulsa.

Casket bearers will be Quincy Jackson, Avery Anderson, Robert Redricks, Richard Papa, Tommy Blaylock and Walter Sloan.

Mr. Ward was born Sep 5, 1971, in Sapulpa.

Survivors include mother Viola Heath; father Charles Ward, daughters Natasha Dennis and Victoria Green; siblings Heath Russell Ward and DeShannon Ward.