Richard A. Ware, 90, of 2115 First Ave. SE, Cedar Rapids, Iowa, died Tuesday, April 29, 2008, following a long illness. Services: 11 a.m. Saturday, May 3, at Murdoch Funeral Home & Cremation Center, Marion, by the Rev. Lloyd Brockmeyer. The family will greet friends from 4 to 7 p.m. Friday, May 2, at the funeral home. Burial: Cedar Memorial Park Cemetery, Cedar Rapids. Richard was born July 1, 1917, the son of Ira and Clara (Boyles) Ware, of Coggon, Iowa. His mother died days later after giving birth to twin boys, Richard and Robert. After her death, his aunt and uncle, Eulalia and Leslie Dunn, of Marion, raised Richard. He married Dorothy A. Drake on April 14, 1939. Richard and his family left Marion in 1959 and returned in 1999. During that time, they owned and operated a hardware in Yuma, Colo., sold the store in Yuma and moved to Broomfield, Colo., where Richard worked for the Postal Service until he retired in July 1977. Richard enjoyed retirement in Mesa, Ariz., until returning to Cedar Rapids. Richard was active in Masonic organizations: past master, Marion Lodge 6, past patron of Marion Chapter of Eastern Star, Cedar Rapids Consistory, and member of the foot patrol for the El Kahir Shrine. Richard was a lifelong member of the Methodist Church and served as an usher for 25 years. Surviving are his wife, Dorothy; their son, Roger (Sharon) Ware of Canton, Mich.; two grandchildren, Sarah (Bryan) Tarchala of Livonia, Mich., and Jack Ware of Canton, Mich.; two brothers, his twin, Robert (Louise) Ware of Cedar Rapids and Eugene (Irene) Dunn of Solon; a sister-in-law, Gwen Beltz of Cedar Rapids; and numerous nieces and nephews. Those who preceded him in death were his parents, Ira and Matilda Ware and Leslie and Eulalia Dunn; his sister, Virginia Riggins Christensen; one brother, Leonard Dunn; and two stepbrothers, Dick and Bob Bressler. In lieu of flowers, a memorial may be sent to Alzheimer’s Association of East Central Iowa, 1570 42nd St. NE, Cedar Rapids, IA 52402 or First United Methodist Church, 1298 Seventh Ave., Marion, IA 52302. Please sign the online guest book for Richard at www.mur dochfuneralhome.com under obituaries.

Source:  Gazette, The (Cedar Rapids-Iowa City, IA) – Thursday, May 1, 2008