Robert Ware

Tuesday, May 1, 2012

Mr. Robert Ware, 92, of Lorraine, departed this life Thursday, April 19, 2012, at New Life Hospice in Lorraine, following a lengthy illness. He was born Feb. 12, 1920, in Ripley, to the union of Hezekiah and Lula Ware. As a child, he was raised in the Hightower community before coming to Lorraine in 1941, where he met and married his late wife, Mary. To this union, four children were born. He worked several different jobs before getting a job at U.S. Steel in the Coke Plant. He worked there 39 years before retiring in 1982.

Robert was a member of Mount Zion Baptist Church in Lorraine, where he was baptized and attended church faithfully until his illness. Some of his favorite things were watching old television shows, especially westerns, and he loved watching and listening to the gospel stations. He was an avid Cleveland Indians fan and also enjoyed gardening, cooking for people (especially his sweet potato pies), and being surrounded by his family.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Mary; his father, Hezekiah; his mother, Lula; his brothers, Clifton "Cliff," George, Willie and Frank; his sisters, Freda Jackson and Laura Gaines; and his son-in-law, Preston Linder.

He leaves to treasure his memories his children, Darlene Ware, Arlene (and Nathaniel) Thomas, Donald (and Cecil) Ware and Donna (and Preston) Linder, all of Lorain;

Siblings Freddy (and Dorothy) Ware of Luxora, Russell (and Vivian) Ware of Blytheville, and Nora Ware of Luxora; and

Eight grandchildren, 14 great-grandchildren, and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

Funeral services were held Wednesday, April 25 at Mt. Zion Baptist Church in Lorraine, and burial took place at Elmwood Cemetery in Lorraine.