Edward Ware, 84

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Edward Frank Ware, 84, of Hillsboro died at 9:28 a.m. Sunday, Sept. 8, 2013, at Montgomery Nursing and Rehabilitation.

Private memorial services will be held at a later date. Bass Patton Dean Funeral Home in Hillsboro is in charge of arrangements.

Mr. Ware was born in Litchfield on Jan. 1, 1929, the son of Frank and Nina (Grassel) Ware. He married Nona Lee Ott in Hillsboro on July 30, 1950, and she survives in Hillsboro.

He graduated from Hillsboro High School in 1946 and from Northern Illinois University, where he played basketball, with a teaching degree. He earned his master's degree from the University of Illinois in 1952.

Mr. Ware lived in Olney and Hillsboro during his lifetime. He taught school and coached basketball in Olney from 1952 to 1954, returned to Hillsboro in 1954 to join the family business of Barnstable-Ware Feed Store and eventually became owner/operator of the Fillmore Grain Elevators in Fillmore for over 35 years.

He was a member of St. Paul's Lutheran Church and Hillsboro Moose Lodge #1377, president of the Hillsboro School Board and served on the Steering Committee to build the new hospital in 1976, then later served on the Hillsboro Area Hospital Board.

Mr. Ware loved sports and was  instrumental in the design of the new golf course at Hillsboro County Club. He was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame at Northern Illinois University in 1999.

In addition to his wife, he is survived by his children, Susan (husband Bob) Pollard, Patricia (husband Dr. Brian) Cady and Lisa (husband Marvin) Traylor, all of Hillsboro; ten grandchildren; and 13 great-grandchildren.

Mr. Ware was preceded in death by a daughter, Amy Beth Ware, in infancy in 1970; and siblings, Jessie K. Hewitt, Mary E. Mullins and Arnold "Barney" Ware.

Memorials may be made to Ware's Grove Lutheran Church in rural Butler.

Send condolences online to basspattondeanfh.com.