Added by: Rich Ware 

“Iona was born in Odgen, Utah on 17 May 1919, the daughter of James Ira Anderson and Winnie May Allen.

Within a few months of her birth (Fall 1919), Iona’s parents and older brother (Elmo) moved to Mesa, Arizona where her parents financially lost everything in the cotton slump of 1920. So in the Spring of 1921 they moved to Los Angeles, California where Iona’s father worked as a carpenter and built their home.

Iona learned at an early age to play the piano and sing. She was very popular in school and participated in many “plays” at school and elsewhere. She was also very athletic and intelligent. She graduated with honors from Los Angeles High School in 1937 and received “the seal of the California Scholarship Federation.”

At the age of 15, while still attending high school, Iona married Jack Austin Ware, on 8 Nov 1935 in the home of her parents in Los Angeles. They went on to have 9 children:

Gene Anders, b. 1938
Ruth Elizabeth, b. 1940
Patricia Ann, b. 1943 (“Patty”)
Jack Denton, b. 1945 (changed to James Ira Ware in 1996)
Richard Arldon, b. 1948 (“Rich”)
Jesse Brent, b. 1950 (“Jess”)
Susan Carole, b. 1952 (changed to Carole Anderson in 1989)
David Scott, b. 1954
Mary Ann, b. 1959

Over the years she sang opera, played the piano at home and at church and enjoyed teaching little children.

Iona was no stranger to financial, marital and other trials and difficulties in her life but tried to always look at the positive side of things. She was kind hearted and loved and cared for her children the best way she could.

Iona passed away at 9:45pm on 25 Jun 1962 as a result of internal uterine hemorrhage caused by shots to induce labor. Her uterus was too thin and ruptured with her 10th child “en utero” causing the baby to die with her. He was never born. The baby was later named Daniel Ethan Ware.

Iona was buried 28 Jun 1962 in the SLC Cemetery with the baby in her arms, in plot 87877 B-CA-8-E-1.”

Source:  FindAGrave

Jim Ferris  Record added: May 09, 2007