Chester Ward, Jr. was born in Bakersfield, CA and saved at the age of eight at the Wayside Baptist Church in Bakersfield. While attending Bakersfield Junior College he served as Music Director of the Stockdale Baptist Church. He married Linda Alvis in 1968 and surrendered to full-time Christian service in 1969.Chester is a graduate of:
He has pastored three Oklahoma churches including:
- California State Polytechnic University, with a B.S. in Architectural Engineering; 1969
- Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, M.A. in Religious Education; 1985
- Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Doctor of Ministry degree. 1991
Chester was called as Director of Missions for Pittsburg Baptist Association, McAlester in 1989. In 1992 Dr. Ward accepted the call to become Director of Missions for Kay Baptist Association in Ponca City, OK.
- Whitesboro (1970-1974),
- McAlester, Second (1974-1978) and
- Checotah, First (1978-1989).
In 1993 his wife, Linda, died after being in an hypoxic coma for 2 1/2 years. In 1994, Chester married Carrol Dicus, who was employed as a secretary for the Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma. He has two grown children (Melinda and Chess) and Carrol has four grown children (Jay, Tammy, Christi and Linda).
Dr. Ward has served a four-year term on the Board of Directors for the Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma, a six-year term on the Board of Directors for the Baptist Foundation of Oklahoma and a one-year term on the Committee on Committees for the Southern Baptist Convention. He is the current President of the Oklahoma Directors of Associational Missions. Dr. Ward has preached over 115 revivals, plays the guitar and piano, enjoys singing duets with his wife Carrol and presenting humorous jokes/songs/skits as Dr. Dudley Dibble Dabble. He also directs an Associational Senior Adult Choir.