Rev Don Ware

Rev. Don Ware, age 85, of Owens Cross Roads, AL., passed away peacefully on July 1, 2023. Bro. Don, as he was affectionately known, was born in Counce, Tennessee, on August 28, 1937, to his parents, Robert Louis Ware and Dixie Martin Ware. Bro. Ware graduated from Fairview High school and married his first love, Alice Etta Butler on August 2, 1957. Bro. Don and Etta moved to Auburn, Alabama, and he attended Alabama Polytechnic Institute, currently known as Auburn University. While at Auburn, they had their first child, Robert “Creig” Ware. He graduated with a degree in Industrial Design. One of Bro. Don’s favorite “fun facts” to tell people was that he was a proud member of the very first graduating class of Auburn University in 1960. Even as a young boy, Bro. Don knew that the Lord was calling him to the ministry. After graduating from Auburn, Bro. Don and Etta moved to Fort Worth, Texas, so he could attend Southwestern Seminary, and he graduated with his Masters in Theology. While at seminary, they had their second child, Cynthia D’Ann. Another “fun fact” that Bro. Don liked to tell was that he was playing golf when Etta went into labor with Cindy. When someone finally called the golf course to tell him his wife was in labor, they couldn’t find him because he started on the back 9 instead of hole #1. Luckily, Bro. Don made it to the hospital in time. After graduating from Southwestern, they moved to Huntsville, AL., where he became the charter pastor of Willowbrook Baptist Church. After serving at Willowbrook, Bro. Don moved his family to Arab to be closer to his parents and in-laws. Since then, Bro. Don has been the pastor of several churches. His heart was drawn and tuned to the smaller, more rural churches. He loved smaller congregations where he could get to know his parishioners and become family with those he served. He pastored at Calvary Heights Baptist Church in the Grassy community, Ruth Baptist Church, New Hope First Baptist, Union Grove First Baptist, and Highland Baptist in Huntsville. He also provided interim services and preached many revivals. While Bro. Don served as a full time minister, he was also bi-vocational. Bro. Don worked at Brown Engineering and then at Thermal Corporation in Huntsville, Al., in the industrial heating and manufacturing business. Another “fun fact” that many people do not know is while he was working, he was also teaching Engineering Drawing at the University of Alabama in Huntsville. In 1989 he and Ms. Etta opened their own business, Southeastern Heaters & Controls, Inc. as a distributor of industrial heaters and controls. Bro. Don and Ms. Etta were married for 53 years before her death in 2010. In June of 2017, Bro. Don married his second love, Carolyn Davis. She was the light of his life for the last 6 years. In August after they were married, he was diagnosed with lung cancer. Even through his sickness, he and Carolyn had wonderful times and made lasting memories. Their favorite thing to do was bowl on their mixed bowling league with friends. They enjoyed playing golf, bowling and spending time with their friends and family. They loved supporting their grandchildren, traveling to watch and cheer them on in whatever they did; sports, school activities, graduations, birthday parties or weddings. Ms. Carolyn was his soul mate and support during his sickness. She loved him, cared for him and served him so well. Bro. Don was always known as a faithful servant, honest, generous and kind. He had a wonderful sense of humor and loved to make people laugh with a joke or preacher story. Bro. Don was preceeded in death by his wife of 53 years, Alice Etta Ware; his parents, Robert and Dixie Ware; brother, Lynn Bruce Ware; sisters, Patricia Lemmermann and Ann Overton. Those left to cherish precious memories; wife, Carolyn Ware; son, Robert “Creig” Ware; daughter, Cindy Mays (Mark); grandchildren, Jordan Ware, Taylor Alice McWilliams (Dustin), Cooper Ware, Shelby Grace Mays and Blake Ware; great grandchild, Hart Julietta McWilliams, his extended family with Carolyn, along with many nieces and nephews and a host of friends. Family Has Requested in Lieu of flowers give to Arab First Baptist Church " Bridge to the Future"

Rev Don Ware

August 28, 1937 - July 1, 2023