Kenneth R. Ware

Kenneth R. Ware, age 88, of St. Peters, Missouri, peacefully left his earthly journey on Sunday, April 16, 2017, with two of his sons and a granddaughter at his bedside.

He was born in El Dorado, Arkansas, on November 21, 1928, to the late Enoch Monroe and Lillian Martin Ware.  He was blessed with two siblings, Mona Ware Crawford, his big sister, and the late Ferrell Enoch Ware, his little brother and constant companion.  A simple, joy-filled, rural south Arkansas childhood was made interesting by growing up with his grandmother, a native of London, who lived in their home. He loved to share stories about Grandma Ware, and her peculiar ways and words. His parents were hard-working, generous people, and Christ and His church was the center of their lives.

Kenneth married Frances Kinard, also of El Dorado, on July 15, 1950. Together, they had five sons, and were married almost sixty-five years.

After graduation from El Dorado High School, at sixteen, he attended Harding College (now Harding University).

He began “appointment preaching” in 1950, and by 1960, was preaching every Sunday. In 1965, after a successful career as a small-town merchant and a sales executive, he was encouraged and eventually persuaded by Joe Goodspeed, his friend and minister in Little Rock, to make ministry his vocation.  He served churches in Junction City, Rison, and Sheridan, Arkansas while still a “tent-maker”. His first located ministry was in Herrin, Illinois. After Herrin, he served churches in Opelousas, Louisiana; St, Charles, Missouri; Florence, Mississippi; and finally, St. Peters, Missouri.

Kenneth served as a member of the President’s Developmental Council of what is now Heritage University. He also served as a member of the Board of Directors of Christian Family Services of St. Louis in its early days.

He is survived by his loving sister: his sons, Ken and his wife, Sally of Glendale, Missouri, Martin of Brandon, Mississippi, Brad of St. Charles, Missouri, and Christopher, of St. Peters, Missouri; cherished grandfather of Jennifer (Ben) Davis of Ponchatoula, Louisiana, Heather (Dr. Jason) Cook of Mt. Juliet, Tennessee, Hillary (Ben) Zeller of Nashville, Tennessee, Brady (Brian) Nelson of Wentzville, Missouri, and Brett Ware of St. Charles, Missouri; and loving great grandfather of Shelby Bordelon, Emma Cook, Anna Cook, Kathleen Zeller, Chase Zeller, Grant Davis, and Mallory Cook.  Dear brother-in-law of Anita Ware and Carolyn Trammell.  Many nieces and nephews, cousins, sons and daughters in the faith, and countless friends survive him.

His cherished wife, Frances; his parents, Enoch and Lillian; his son, Michael Todd Ware; and his brother, Ferrell, preceded Kenneth in death.

Memorials to Camp Ne-O-Tez, Desoto, Missouri, are preferred.