Dorothy Justice Ward age 92 formerly of Pikeville, passed peacefully on July 5, 2025 at Halifax Hospital in Daytona, Florida. She was Born at Fishtrap, Kentucky on August 19,1932.

After attending various county schools, Dorothy entered the Pikeville College Academy her Junior year of high school. She thrived there and met several life-long friends. She was a cheerleader for the Academy basketball team. After graduation, she married Jeff and started a family. As her children were growing up, her desire to attend college turned into a reality as she enrolled in Pikeville College the fall semester of 1969 and then graduated in 1974.

While living in Pikeville, Dorothy was a member of the Pikeville United Methodist Church. She was involved in many community service projects, a Brownie Leader, a board member of the first Pikeville Public Library and co-owner and manager of Hudson Advertising Company for 10 years. She turned her flower beds into vegetable gardens and also found time to play golf as well as join a bridge club.

In 1977, Dorothy and her beloved husband Jeff, became part-time residents of Clearwater, Florida with full time residency in 1987. She enrolled at the University of South Florida in Tampa and earned her Master’s Degree in Anthropology. Dorothy was very active in her local Archaeology Club which led to various jobs throughout Florida and one in South Carolina.

In 1988, she went to Canada on her first hiking trip with her high school friends, who called themselves the Pikeville College “Academy Hikers”. They hiked for 26 years throughout the United States, Cuba and abroad.

Dorothy was preceded in death by her husband, W. Jeff Ward III, her son, W. Jeff Ward IV (Jeffie), her mother, Creetie Justice Coleman, her father, K.B. Justice, her step-father, Curtis Coleman, her grandson, Chad Jones, her son-in-law, Bennie Wallace and her step-brother, Albert Justice.

She is survived by two daughters, Valery W. Wallace of Port Orange, Florida and Leda W. (Paul) Jones of Pikeville, Kentucky, six grandchildren, Ben (Cari) Wallace, Lee (Wendy) Jones, April R. (Jason) Woodard, Brook W. (Jason) Issac, Natalie W. (Darren) Kissinger and “Will” W.J. (Patience) Ward V.

In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the Pikeville United Methodist Church and to the “Academy Alumni Fund at UPike.