HONOLULU, Hawaii – Odessa Crosby Ware, 79, widow of Maurice Ware, died at her home on June 29, 2007.

The youngest of nine children, she was born in Carlisle on March 26, 1928. She left her family farm to attend Fisk University in 1947 on two prestigious scholarships, the Bausch and Lomb and Pepsi Cola Scholarship.

Following college in 1952 she joined the Air Force where she was a dental assistant. While stationed at Ellington AFB in Houston she married Maurice Ware in September 1955. Odessa left the military but Maurice continued his service until retirement. She received her Masters Degree from the University of Hawaii in 1996.

Their travels included a two -year stay on the tiny island of Guam. While there the island was hit by typhoon Nancy in September 1961. This system had possibly the highest winds ever measured in a tropical cyclone. So severe were the winds that the military men flew the aircraft to Okinawa for safety and left the women on the island alone with the children. Their final base was in Hawaii where they moved in 1970.

They loved the island although Odessa secured a position as director of social work in Berlin for several years in the late ’80s. She had a very successful career working civil service. She was known as a meticulous dresser and lived to shop searching for collectibles of every kind including China, dolls, and coins, and was also known for her loveof finefurnitureandjewelry.

Mrs. Ware is survived by three children, six grandchildren; a great grandchild and a brother.

She and her husband will be laid to rest side by side at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific. in Honolulu, Hawaii on Aug. 31, 2007.