Gadsden – Funeral will be at 11 a.m. at Dwight Baptist Church on Wednesday, December 14, 2011, for Mr. William Henry Ware, 91, of Gadsden, who passed away December 10, 2011 after a lengthy illness. The Reverends Jay Stuart and Duane Ware will officiate with burial at Crestwood Cemetery. Crestwood Memorial Funeral Home will direct services. Mr. Ware was a faithful Christian and a lifelong dedicated member of Dwight Baptist Church and former deacon where he loved to sing in the choir and shake everyone’s hand. Music was a big part of his and his wife, Pil’s life. For years they and others from their church played in a band called “The Leisure Timers” that performed for people in nursing homes. He played the harmonica and loved to sing and listen to gospel music. He is famous for saying “Is there anything you want me to sing” with a big smile on his face. He had a great sense of humor and loved God, people and life. He proudly served his country in the Navy during World War II. He was a very intelligent man and was the valedictorian of the 1937 class of Emma Sansom High School. He graduated in 3 years from Auburn University (API) where he was tops in his class in Chemical Engineering and a member of Tau Beta Pi Engineering Honor Society. He was Chief Chemist at Republic Steel in Alabama City. He often worked Calculus problems for fun and just to keep his mind sharp. He tutored many people in science and math and taught Chemistry at the University of Alabama Extension Center in Gadsden. He also loved reading, especially books by Zane Gray. He coached Little League Baseball for years and had a strong love for all the young men he mentored. He was honored when the baseball field built at the old Dwight School site was named after him and his brother-in-law, R.L. Penland. He was intramural tennis champ at Auburn and played tennis nearly every day well into his 80s. He also taught countless kids to fish and to water ski on Weiss Lake – remember, “Don’t pump your arms!” He was preceded in death by his wife of nearly 70 years, Marion (Pil) Pilgram Ware and his parents, H.K. and Annie Brown Ware and sisters, Dorothy Thompson and Elizabeth Penland. He is survived by his sons, Duane (Brenda) Ware, of Temperance, Michigan, Mike (Janis) Ware, of Homewood, Tim (Leslie) Ware, of Gadsden, and daughter, Susan (Don) Pike, of Piedmont; sister, Ethel Randolf, Indiana; sister-in-law, Mildred, Denton, Texas; brother-in-law, Robert Pilgrim, Gadsden; beloved friend, Doris Penland; grandchildren, Mandy Simerly, Jeff, Wes, Jason, Kevin, Brian and Colton Ware; great-grandchildren, Jecca, Thad and Griff Simerly and Bryson Ware; a few cousins and many nieces and nephews. Pallbearers will be his grandsons. The family would like to extend their thanks to Anita, Debra, Joyce, Laura, Pricilla, Roxie and Arlie for the caring love and support they have given him and the entire family. They would also like to thank the staff of Gadsden Regional Home Health, Reverend Richard Bradford, Dr. Sanchetti, Dr Hakim, the staff at Riverview Hospital, the Gadsden Fire Department and all the many friends from Dwight Baptist Church and his neighborhood that visited over the years. In lieu of flowers the family asks that donations in his memory be given to Dwight Baptist Church. The family will receive friends at Dwight Baptist Church today, December 13, 2011, from 4 to 8 p.m. and one hour prior to the service.

Source:  Anniston Star, The (AL) – Tuesday, December 13, 2011