Funeral Services for Bill Ware, age 88 of Bedford who died Tuesday, February 21, 2006 at the Bedford Nursing & Rehab Center were held Friday, February 24, 2006 at 10:00 a.m. at the Ritchie Funeral Home in Bedford. Interment was held in the Ohio Cemetery in Burlington Junction, Missouri. Memorials can be directed to the Bedford Public Library or the Bedford Senior Center.

William Wallis Ware was born June 12, 1917 in Burlington Junction, Missouri the son of James Corfield Ware and Carrie Kay (Crane) Ware. He grew up attending school and graduating from the Burlington Junction High School. On December 25, 1938, in a Christmas Day Ceremony, Bill was united in marriage to Dorothy Walton at the Methodist parsonage in Nebraska City, Nebraska.

The couple farmed in the Burlington Junction area for many years. They moved south of Hopkins and farmed there for twenty years, moving to the Bedford area where they farmed until their retirement in 1978. Bill loved to farm, he enjoyed raising cattle, and had a true passion for being a steward of the land. He was very concerned with conservation, and in every instance, left the land he farmed in better condition than when he found it ~ even when he rented land! Bill was one of the first in the area to raise soybeans as a grain crop. After retirement, Bill and Dorothy spent the next several years in the Savannah and St. Joseph area during most of the year. Summer time was spent at Woodland Park, Colorado, which was a special joy for them.

After retirement, Bill worked in real estate and kept ties to agriculture by taking surveys for the government, gardening and helping his brother with the farming operation. He had to "keep his hands in the dirt". Bill and Dorothy were both active in county extension work. Together Bill and Dorothy enjoyed travel, and had experienced wonderful vacations in Europe, England, Alaska, and many points in the United States as well as some winter time in Texas. Of course, their summers in Colorado, escaping the hot, humid Midwest weather were always a treat. Bill loved to play cards, especially with Dorothy, Rickie, Linda, Amy, Diane ~ in other words ~ the women of the family!

Left to cherish Bill's memory are his loving wife of 67 years, Dorothy Ware of Bedford; two sisters, Theodora Meek of College Springs; and Dorothy Derderian of Lake Forrest, Illinois; three children, Dave Ware and wife Rickie of Mountain Home, Idaho; Mick Ware and wife Diane of Bedford; and Linda Ware of Santa Fe, New Mexico; six grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

Preceding Bill in death were his parents; four sisters; three brothers; an infant daughter and one grandchild.

Bill will be missed by many ~ both family and friends.

May God grant comfort and strength to those who mourn Bill's passing.