William A. “Bill” Ware, 84, of La Grande died Jan. 19 at a local care center. A memorial service will begin at 6:30 p.m. Jan. 27 at Trinity Baptist Church in Spokane with a reception afterwards. Burial will be at Greenwood Cemetery in Spokane. Loveland Funeral Chapel is in charge of arrangements. Mr. Ware was born Sept. 22, 1921, to Walter and Alma Ware in Zenith, Ga. He graduated from high school in 1939, and served in the Army Air Corps during World War II. On May 1, 1945, he married Ruth Johnson. He worked for Columbia Electric, which later became Amfac Electric. He retired in 1986. He helped start Trinity Baptist Church in Spokane and served in the Fairmont Memorial Association, Vision Inc. World Mission, Western Baptist Seminary, the governor’s council, the Republican Finance Committee, the Union Gospel Mission, Riverview Retirement Community and other committees. He was a member of the Spokane Club and the Downtown Rotary Club. He enjoyed boating, fishing, water skiing and being with his grandchildren. He had a southern sense of humor and hospitality, and will be remembered as a great story-teller who also loved to sing. Survivors include his wife; children and their spouses, Bonnie and Wayne Pickens of La Grande and Bruce and Jodi Ware of Louisville, Ken.; five grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; and a sister, Francis Mullen of Tulsa, Okla. Memorials may be made to Trinity Baptist Church in care of Loveland Chapel.

Source:  Observer, The (La Grande, OR) – Sunday, January 29, 2006