Former state Sen. James C. Ware died Wednesday at St. Elizabeth Medical Center-South in Edgewood, apparently of a heart attack. Mr. Ware, who lived at Lakeside Park, was 78. A state senator for part of Northern Kentucky from 1958 to 1966, Mr. Ware also was the senate majority leader from 1960 to 1964 and president pro-tem from 1964 to 1966. He also was a former city attorney for Crescent Springs, Winston Park and Fort Mitchell. Mr. Ware was a member of the law firm of Ware, Bryson, West, Bartlett, Kummer & Knapmeyer in Edgewood at his death. “He was one of the most influential men in the community, as well as being one of the kindest and most Christian men in his profession,” said retired businessmen Harold Krantz of Edgewood, a longtime friend. Mr. Ware grew up in Covington and received a bachelor’s degree from Centre College, in Danville, in 1933. He attended Chase Law School for two years and was admitted to the bar in 1940. Early in his career Mr. Ware was a legal secretary, an investment analyst and assistant to the trust officer at Central Trust Co. in Cincinnati and a Federal Bureau of Investigation special agent. He first practiced law with his father, the late Orie S. Ware, and brother, the late William O. Ware, beginning in 1946. Mr. James Ware was a member of the Northern Kentucky, Kentucky and American bar associations and a fellow in the American Bar Foundation. He was a deacon and a former trustee at Fort Mitchell Baptist Church, where he also had taught a men’s bible class for many years. Mr. Ware was chairman of the Baptist Convalescent Center in Newport at his death and he was a former member of the Covington Protestant Childrens’ Home board of trustees. He also was a former member of the advisory council of Booth Memorial Hospital in Florence and was a former member of the Covington Optimist Club, a past president of the Dixie Optimist Club and a former member of the Northern Kentucky University Foundation. Survivors include his wife, Jo Kummer Ware; a daughter, Mary M. McBrayer of Lexington; a son, James C. Ware of Lexington; a sister, Louise Wile of Lexington; and three grandchildren. Services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at Fort Mitchell Baptist Church. Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. today at Swindler & Currin Funeral Home in Covington. Contributions are suggested to the Baptist Convalescent Center in Newport, or the Fort Mitchell Baptist Church Building for Christ Fund.

Source:  Lexington Herald-Leader (KY) – Friday, November 8, 1991