William Arthur Sword, 85, of Taylor, Michigan, went to be with the Lord at 12:11 a.m. Sunday, October 15, 2017.

He was a member of Kirby Freewill Baptist Church in Michigan.  He was a coal miner for 12 years until moving to Pedro, Ohio, where he worked for Pennington Aluminum Company for 4 ½ years.  In 1965, Bill moved to Taylor, Michigan, and retired from Ford Motor Company in Dearborn, Michigan.  He enjoyed playing baseball and bowled with his family on a bowling league.  He especially enjoyed pitching horseshoes at the Sword family reunions and was a fan of Western movies.  Bill was a hardworking man always taking care of his family.

He was preceded in death by his wife of 65 years, Norma Lou "Sis" Sanders Sword, who died October 10, 2016; his parents, Spencer and Jessie Mae Skiles Sword; two brothers, Ovie Sword and Christopher "Critty" Sword and his wife, Karen; and two sisters, Jeanette Sword and Freba Gayle Damron.

Survivors include three children, Kathy Lynn Sword Mullins and her husband, Charles Douglas Mullins, of Henderson, Kentucky, William Randall Sword and his wife, Maureen Sword, of Robards, Kentucky, and Amy Leigh Sword Dunlap and her husband, Robert Dunlap, of Munith, Michigan; one sister, Gwendolyn "Gweny" Collier of Ohio; three brothers, Norman Ray Sword of Arkansas, John Joseph "Jody" Sword and his wife, Patsy, of Weeksbury, Kentucky, and Robert Milton "Bob" Sword and his wife, Anise, of Wheelwright, Kentucky; eight grandchildren, Bethany Rachelle Lander and her husband, Derrick Ethan Lander, Heather Jarie Thomas and her husband, Joshua Glenn Thomas, Randall Glenn Sword and his wife, Tracy Sword, Douglas Arthur Sword and his wife, Connie Sword, Deanna Marie Abdinor, Aaron Edward Sword and his wife, Michelle Sword, Jessica Lynae Deladurantaye and her husband, Cody Deladurantaye, and Nathan Andrew Dunlap; 22 great-grandchildren; nieces and nephews.

Services will be at 1 p.m. Friday at Rudy-Rowland Funeral Home.  Dr. Hollis Marshall will officiate.  Burial will be in Roselawn Memorial Gardens.

Visitation will be from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday and until service time Friday at the funeral home.

Contributions may be made to St. Anthony's Hospice.

Pallbearers will be Derrick Ethan Lander, Joshua Glenn Thomas, Randall Glenn Sword, Douglas Arthur Sword, Aaron Edward Sword, and Nathan Andrew Dunlap.