Milton Wallace Noward

Milton Wallace Noward, age 89, of Pinckneyville, Ill., passed away on Friday, March 13, 2015 at 3:30 p.m. in Memorial Hospital of Carbondale, Carbondale, Ill.

Wally was born on Dec. 12, 1925 in Pinckneyville, Ill., a son to Loren W. and Lena Christina (Huth) Noward. On Sept. 19, 1951, he married Sharon Schmidt in the First United Presbyterian Church, Pinckneyville, Ill., and she survives. Milton was a member of the First Baptist Church, Pinckneyville, Ill., for over 50 years and served as deacon and was a great Sunday school teacher. He was a proud veteran of the United States Navy, proudly serving his country on the USS Barnwell APA 132, mostly in the Asiatic Sea during WW II. During his time aboard the ship, he was underway 92% of the time. Some of his ports of call were the Hawaiian Islands, including Leyte, Samar, Manila, Luzon and Mindoro an also, the Admiraltz Islands, New Caledonia, Saipan, Tinian and Japan. At the end of the war, he sailed through the Panama Canal to Norfolk, Va. At this time he helped place his ship in the fleet reserve and was discharged in May of 1946. After the war, he ran the Magic Carpet Run.

Wally worked at Mighty Fine Pudding for 19 years and as a mechanic in the central shop for Consolidated Coal, Pinckneyville, Ill. for 19 years. He also served on the Pinckneyville #204 School Board, Consolidated Water District and was a volunteer fireman for the Pinckneyville Fire Department. During his younger years, Wally worked for his father at Noward's Garage and was a projectionist for the Arrow Drive-In, Steeleville, Ill. He enjoyed fishing, taxidermy, hunting duck and geese, loved the outdoors and being with his family.

Survivors include his wife, Sharon Noward; two children, Brad (Jackie) Noward and Paula Jeremiah, all of Pinckneyville, Ill.; four grandchildren, Amy Wildermuth, Kelly (Dr. Chris) Reyes, Brittney Noward and Clinton (Michele) Noward and seven great-grandchildren, Kelton, Karlee, Norah, Brynlee, Bryton, Quentin and Cailynn.

He was preceded in death by his parents; father-in-law and mother-in-law, Woodrow and Irene (Bigham) Schmidt; brother, Don Noward and son-in-law, Bill Jeremiah.

Funeral services will be held at First Baptist Church, Pinckneyville, Ill., on Tuesday, March 17, 2015 at 10:00 a.m. with Dr. Jay Lowder officiating. Interment will be in Mueller Hill Cemetery, Pinckneyville, Ill. Military graveside service will be provided by Presswood- Daffron American Legion Post #2504.

Friends may call at Pyatt Funeral Home, Pinckneyville, Ill., on Monday from 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. and on Tuesday at the church from 8:00 a.m. until 10:00 a.m.

Memorial donations may be made to American Heart Association and American Cancer Society.

For more information or to sign an online guest register please visit www.pyattfuneralhome.com.