Cynthia Janet (Pantle) Ward, 67, of Columbus, Ohio, and formerly of Paris, Illinois passed away Friday, July 24, 2020, at her home. She recently retired after more than 25 years of dedicated service as an employee of the Ohio Supreme Court and Sentencing Commission.

Mrs. Ward was born Nov. 23, 1952, at Paris, the daughter of Norma J. (Samford) Pantle and Max E. Pantle.

Mrs. Ward attended school in Chrisman and Olney and graduated from East Richland High School in 1970. She attended Olney Central College one year before transferring to Illinois State University in Normal, where she completed her degree in 1974. She immediately started teaching art at Crestwood School in all eight grades to students she treasured for 14 years. She was a member of the philanthropic Delta Theta Tau sorority.

She moved to Columbus, Ohio, in 1990 and devoted many volunteer hours to the Christian Assembly Church, the Boy Scouts and Triple T Youth For Christ. She enjoyed sports with her sons, art in many forms — jewelry making, basket weaving, pottery, sketching, painting, etc.

She is survived by two sons, Phillip and Sean (Alysha ) Ward of Columbus, Ohio; grandson, Barry Ward; mother, Norma Pantle (Harry) Shumate of Murfreesboro, Tenn.; sisters, Rhonda (David) Rooker of Tyler, Texas, and Susan (Tom) Hess of Colorado Springs, Colo.; and a host of other relatives and friends.

She was preceded in death by her father, Max E. Pantle; mother-in-law, Donna Ward; Aunt Arlene Samford; and several other aunts and uncles.

A private memorial service was held Aug. 1 at her church in Columbus. Another memorial service in Paris is 11 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 15, at the First Baptist Church.

Memorial donations may be made to TTT Christian Youth Ministries, 13000 US Highway 41 N., Evansville, Ind. 47725

The Prairie Press, Paris, IL – August 7, 2020