Henry Theophilus Ware died peacefully in his sleep at home in Egan, Louisiana, at 2:15 a.m. on April 24, 2012.

He was born on June 22, 1922, in Bland Lake Community near San Augustine, Texas, to James Franklin Ware and Brookie Richards Ware. His father was born in San Augustine County; his mother was born in Barbour County, Alabama. The Ware family has been in the area since 1834, before the Texas Revolution.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Irene Steele Ware, and two sons, David Henry Ware and Philip Franklin Ware; by his parents, James and Brookie Ware; and his brother James E. Ware.

He is survived by his daughters, Dr. Cheryl Lynn Ware of Lake Charles, Louisiana, and Kay W. Cavanaugh of Natchitoches, Louisiana; by his granddaughter Rachel Olivia Cavanaugh of Natchitoches, Louisiana; by his sister Mildred Snodgrass; by his sister-in-law Iris Jean Wilkinson; by two nieces and three nephews; and by many cousins and friends, especially Billie Jennings and Charles Watson.

He served in the Army during World War II: he was proud to have "strung wire" for his country. He served in the 84th Infantry Division, the Railsplitters, in the Signal Corps. It embarked on September 20, 1944, was in the United Kingdom from October 1 for further training, and landed on Omaha Beach 1-4 November 1944, moving to the Netherlands and then on to Germany, Belgium, and Germany again. The Division remained in Germany after VE Day, returning to the U.S. on January 19, 1946. Years later, he visited the town of Weinheim, where he had been stationed.

After he was discharged, H.T. returned to Texas and went to work for Sun Oil Company in Beaumont, Texas. It was there that he met his future wife, Irene Steele, and married her on May 29, 1948. He worked for Sun Oil Company as an electrician until his retirement in 1982.

Depending on how they knew him, people called him H. T. or Hank.

The youngest of three children, H.T. grew up on a farm in Bland Lake Community that is still owned by the family. His last trip there in November 2011 was one he greatly enjoyed, watching nieces, nephews, and daughters work on new fencing. Even in his last illness, he kept up with news about the farm with great interest.

He graduated from San Augustine High School in 1940 and attended the University of Texas, where he played baseball under Coach Billy Dish. He was proud of the few semesters when he "visited" The University and always encouraged his children to complete their university degrees. His love of learning continued throughout his life, as did his love of baseball.

H.T. and his family lived first in Beaumont, then in Humble, Texas. He was transferred to Sunset, Louisiana, in 1955, and then to Egan, Louisiana, in January 1957.

In Egan, H.T. was active in helping to build the Egan Community Center, serving on its board, and in building the baseball field. He coached Little League for a number of years. He and his wife were involved in the community center, in their children's activities, and had many friends in the area.

H.T. was an avid sportsman. He loved to fish and hunt, and the trophy fish and deer heads decorate the walls of his home attest to that love. He and his late son Philip spent many hours together fishing and hunting, both in Louisiana and in Texas.

The family would like to extend its deepest gratitude for the wonderful care of H.T. given by his physicians, Dr. Karrie Kilgore, Dr. Dwayne Bergeaux, and Dr. Ben Sabbaghian, as well as to DCI dialysis clinic in Crowley, Jeff Davis Home Health Care, and Louisiana Hospice and Palliative Care.

There will be a visitation on Thursday April 26, from 5p.m. to 9 p.m. at Geesey-Ferguson Funeral Home in Crowley, Louisiana. The funeral services will be at Wyman-Roberts Funeral Home in San Augustine, Texas, on Saturday April 28, with visitation from 10-11 a.m. and the funeral service at 11 a.m., followed by graveside rites at Antioch Cemetery. Rev. Al Shaw will lead the services. James Richard McBride, a first cousin, will lead the songs. Pallbearers will be James L. Ware and Mike Snodgrass, nephews; Chuck Whitton and William Richards, cousins; Larry Watts, nephew-in-law; and family member Lafeur Colter. Honorary pallbearers are Abbie Earl Whitton, cousin; Charles Snodgrass, nephew; William Whitton, cousin; and Herb Kaatz, nephew-in-law.