Rev. William Raymond Beard, age 91, passed away on December 29, 2011 at the V.A. Hospital in Lexington, KY. He was born on February 5, 1922 in Louisville, KY to the late Walter and Anna Shofner Beard.

He was a Navy Veteran of World War II.  Rev. Beard served as pastor of the following churches, Round Top, Locust Grove and Valley Creek Baptist in Elizabethtown, KY; Muldraugh Hill Baptist in Lebanon, KY; Mackville Baptist in Mackville, KY; Temple Baptist in Springfield, OH; Beaver Creek Baptist in Dayton, OH; East Union Baptist in Graham, KY; Lowell Ave. Baptist in Campbellsville, KY; and Austin Village Baptist in Warren, OH. He also served as Taylor County Baptist Director of Missions.

He is survived by his wife, Frances Niceley Beard; two daughters, Anna (Roger) Weddle and Marilyn (Mitch) Ash; four grandchildren, Leanne, Chip (Brandi), Angela Weddle and Aaron Ash; and two great-grandsons, Quinn and Asher Weddle.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Walter and Anna Beard; and three sisters, Juanita, Marjorie and Dorothy Beard.

Visitation for Rev. Beard will be Monday, January 2, 2012 at the Lake Cumberland Funeral Home in Somerset, KY beginning at 5:00 P.M. The funeral service will immediately follow at 7:00 P.M. with Bro. Mitch Ash, Bro. Roger Weddle and Bro. Bill Dawson presiding. Burial will be in the Mill Springs National Cemetery in Nancy, KY. The American Legion Post #38 Honor Guard will conduct military honors for Rev. Beard.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made in the memory of Rev. Beard to Gideons International, P.O. Box 27, Somerset, KY 42502.