ELKHART -- Nina Ray Ward, 79, died Saturday (Sept. 11, 2010) at 9:43 a.m. of natural causes at Valley View Healthcare Center.

She was born Jan. 7, 1931, in Sevierville, Tenn., to Ray and Anna Mae (Sims) Ward. She never married.

She is survived by a sister, Charlotte A. Wise of Elkhart; a brother, Robert S. Ward of Chicago; two nieces; and four nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; two brothers, William and Charles Ward; and her brothers' spouses, Joanne and Laura Ward.

Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesday at Billings Funeral Home, 812 Baldwin St., Elkhart. Nina will then be returned to her home town of Sevierville and visitation will take place there from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday at Atchley Funeral Home, 118 E. Main St., with a service to follow at 7 p.m. Burial will take place 10 a.m. Friday at Alder Branch Cemetery, Sevierville.

Nina was a long-distance telephone operator for GTE (now Verizon) in Elkhart for more than 30 years, retiring in the early 1990s. She was extensively involved with her community and enjoyed helping with United Way, where she served on the board of directors, and the Salvation Army, where she would ring bells for Christmas. She was also a staunch union representative, serving as steward for IBEW 723, chairperson and past president for the AFL-CIO Community Services Council and the Elkhart and Kosciusko counties AFL-CIO Labor Council and past president of the United Labor Agency. She was a recipient of the title of Sagamore of the Wabash and of the 1972 Rusell Kidder Community Service Award. She also served as a Democratic State Convention delegate, poll worker and precinct committee chairperson.

Memorials may be made to the charity of one's choice.