R. Ward Sutton

March 17, 1940 ~ February 24, 2015

R. Ward Sutton
March 17, 1940 – February 24, 2015

R. Ward Sutton, age 74, passed away on Tuesday, February 24, 2015. Born March 17, 1940 in Pitt County, NC, he was the son of the late Robert Lee Sutton and the late Hattie Mae Griffin Sutton. He was also preceded in death by his wife, Sue Ann Lupton Sutton; an infant daughter, Lisa Jane Sutton; and a brother, Davis Lee “Bud” Sutton.

A 1958 graduate of Winterville High School, Ward was a Licensed Funeral Director for over 50 years. He owned and operated R. Ward Sutton Cemetery Services for many years until his passing. A longtime member of the The Church of the Good Shepherd in Rocky Mount, he was past president of the Rocky Mount Jaycees, past president of the Rocky Mount Rotary Club, he was a Rotary International Paul Harris Fellow, a member of Corinthian Lodge #230, Past Master of the Twin County Lodge #729, a member of the Sudan Shriners, a member of the Rocky Mount Shrine Club, a member of Sudan Prowlers, a member of the Royal Order of Jesters Court #145 in New Bern, NC, he was secretary and recorder of the Rocky Mount York Rite Bodies, a member of the Allied Masonic Degrees and a member of the Rocky Mount Elks Lodge #1038.

He leaves behind to remember him, his daughter, Kimberly Sutton Brady and her husband Patrick of Catonsville, MD; two grand-daughters, Kelly Lupton Brady and Caroline Ward Brady; a sister, Jean Sutton Peyton of Waynesville, NC; and a special friend, Jo Rouse of LaGrange, NC.

Funeral Services will be held on Saturday, February 28, 2015 at 11:00 AM at The Church of the Good Shepherd, 231 North Church Street, Rocky Mount, NC 27804, with The Rev. Matthew R. Johnson officiating. Entombment will follow at Rocky Mount Memorial Park Cemetery. A visitation will be held on Friday, February 27, 2015 from 7:00 to 9:00 PM at Wheeler & Woodlief Funeral Home, 1130 North Winstead Avenue, Rocky Mount, NC 27804.

In lieu of flowers, the family would prefer donations to Sudan Shrine Temple Hospital Transportation Fund to Shriner’s Hospital for Children, 403 East Front Street, New Bern, NC 28560.

Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Wheeler and Woodlief Funeral Home and Cremation Services, 1130 North Winstead Avenue, Rocky Mount, NC 27804.