Command Sgt. Maj. Horace Ware Jr., 79, served his country in the military for 41 years and one month. He died Sunday, July 8, 2001, at Stillwater Medical Center. Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at Strode Chapel, Charles W. Thomas officiating. Burial will follow at Sunset Memorial Gardens under the direction of Strode Funeral Home. Ware was born Nov. 30, 1921, in Bartlesville to Horace Ware Sr., and Pearl (Covey) Ware On Dec. 2, 1939, he married Charlena Elmore in Pawnee. Ware's military career included two years in the Navy, 19 years in the National Guard and 19 more in the Army Reserve. His military career began during the era of pre-World War II campaign. He was released from active duty as a corporal before the attack on Pearl Harbor and returned home in time to register for the draft. Later he became an officer in the National Guard. When the Korean War began, he was called back to active duty to serve on the front line. He served there from December 1951 to the spring of 1952. After serving as the executive officer in an infantry battalion of the 45th Infantry and promotion to lieutenant colonel, Ware reverted to the inactive ready reserve in 1969. He resigned his commission in May 1970 and was assigned as an operations sergeant for the 2nd Brigade of the 95th Division in Enid. In 1974 he transferred to an intelligence sergeant slot at the 3rd Brigade Headquarters and was promoted to command sergeant major in October 1978. Ware retired from his position as command sergeant for the 2nd Battalion of the 3rd Brigade in Ponca City in November 1982. He was also a retired carpentry superintendent of the OSU Physical Plant. Ware was a member of the Christian Church, VFW, American Legion and Stillwater Boat Club. He was predeceased by his parents and two sisters. Survivors include his wife; one son, Bill and Dawn Rae Ware of Perry; two daughters, Susie and Charles Swart of Pawnee and Roline and Jim Askew of Stillwater; Also, six grandchildren, Stacey Swart of Pawnee, Shelly and Dave Duer of Broken Arrow, Shawna and Brian Thompson of Davenport, Bill Jr. and Kim Ware of Melbourne, Fla., Brittany Ware of Perry and Steve and Rebecca Askew of Manhattan, Kan.; four great-grandchildren, Faith Nadine Thompson of Davenport, William Hunter Duer of Broken Arrow, Gage Askew and Carson Askew, both of Manhattan, Kan. Honorary pallbearers are Mark Grimsley, Stacey Swart, Dan Hasenfratz, Brian Thompson, Dave Duer, Bob Carlson, Walter Crane, Alfred Broyles, Dick Robinett and R.V. Sturgeon. Memorials may be made to Pancreatic Center Action Network, Box 1010, Torrance, Calif., 90505; VFW, Box 765, Stillwater, or American Legion, 607 S. Main, Stillwater 74074." Source: Obits July, 2001, Stillwater Daily NewsPress, Payne Co OK - Obit Index for July 2001
