Walker Coward

Walker Coward, 85, of Rockingham, died Sunday, February 28, 2010 at FirstHealth Richmond Memorial Hospital in Rockingham. Mr. Coward was born January 31, 1925 in Richmond County, a son of the late Coy and Eliza Smith Coward. He was a member of Jesus First Free Will Baptist Church where he was a deacon and head trustee. He served his country in the US Navy during World War II and was a member of the Richmond County Historical Society. He was the former owner of Rockingham Scrap Yard, had retired from Burlington Industries ( Klopman Mills) and later worked at the Richmond County Recycling Center in Cordova. He was also the owner of Coward Indian Museum in Grenaco Village. He was preceded in death by an infant daughter, Eliza Jane Coward, a great-grandchild, Kenneth Brower, brothers, Thurman, Luke, Coy, and Jim Coward, and sisters, Beatrice Rouse and Mollie Bailey. Surviving are his wife, Ruby Lunsford Coward of the home; sons, Robert Coward, Gary Coward and wife Linda, of Rockingham; daughters, Kathy Inman of Hamlet, Delores Littleton and husband Henry, Arleen Chance and husband Jerry, of Rockingham; 10 grandchildren ;13 great-grandchildren; brother, Harmon Coward of Rockingham; and sisters, Annie McKnight of Lowell, NC, Pearl Bullard of Hamlet, and Mary Baker of Wallace, SC. Funeral services will be held at 3:30 PM Wednesday at Jesus First Free Will Baptist Church with Rev. Jerry Smith and Rev. Eddie McLean officiating. Interment will follow in Richmond County Memorial Park. The family will see friends from 2:30 – 3:30 pm Wednesday at the church and at other times at the Chance home, 161 Keith Ave. Rockingham. Memorials may be made to Jesus First Free Will Baptist Church, 1109 Hylan Ave., Hamlet, NC 28345.