Obituary of Munro Proctor Ware

In loving memory of Munro (Mini) Ware, 84, of Olympia, Washington, who passed away from Parkinson’s disease on July 25, 2013 in the home he loved on Butler Cove. A resident of Olympia since 1953, he was born in Appleton, Wisconsin on May 2, 1929 to Merrill Proctor Ware and Esther Amanda (Munro) Ware. The family moved to Shorewood, Wisconsin, Park Ridge, Illinois, and then to Wauwatosa, Wisconsin, where he graduated from Wauwatosa High School in 1947. He was vice president of his senior class. He enjoyed sports, turning out for whatever was in season, earning letters in football, tennis, and volleyball. They were Wisconsin state champions in tennis and volleyball. The summer after graduation, he and three friends drove their Model As to Burbank, California. The trip was cut short when he lost his leg in an accident caused by a drunk driver. He recuperated at home in Wauwatosa, with the help of his family and many friends, accepting his loss with courage and determination, and always a sense of humor. In January 1948, he enrolled at Beloit College in Beloit, Wisconsin, graduating in 1951 with a BA in economics. He was a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity. No longer able to compete in sports, he became the manager of the Beloit football team. On June 11, 1952, he married Sally Carlson at the Delta Gamma house with the Beloit College chaplain officiating. They were married 61 years. In June 1953, he and Sally decided to “Go West,” packing their tent, sleeping bags, and golf clubs in their 1949 Chevy. They had a wonderful trip, sightseeing, and playing golf at Banff and other courses. They explored Oregon and Washington, met some terrific people in Olympia, and decided to put down their roots. Munro took a job with the WSDOT and Sally was hired by Leland P. Brown to teach 2nd grade at Lincoln School. In June 1956, Munro earned his MA in U.S. History and a teaching certificate at the Colorado State College in Greeley (now Northern Colorado University). He taught in the Olympia School District for 25 years at old Washington Junior High, Reeves and McLane. Besides teaching, he had a wide variety of jobs. One of his most enjoyable was as a steward for Wisconsin Central Airlines, flying at 5,000 feet over Wisconsin fields to Wisconsin cities and to Minneapolis and Chicago. He always enjoyed sports, playing golf at Olympia Country Club, Pebble Beach with Sally, the Olympic Club and many others. He loved sailing in Puget Sound, the San Juans and Gulf Islands with his family. He enjoyed all kinds of music, theater, and travel. He loved Eugene Ormandy and the Philadelphia Orchestra, Shostakovich, Brahms, Beethoven, La Bohème, Nat King Cole, Sarah, Ella, and Louie, and the Green Bay Packers. He also loved the Seahawks and Mariners. Munro is survived by his wife, Sally; daughter, Sarah (Steve) Burgess; son, Tom (Catie); and two grandchildren. The family is forever indebted to Celia Wilson and her team of caregivers for their skilled and loving care, and to son Tom’s extraordinary care and involvement, which enabled Munro to remain at home throughout his illness. A life well lived. He is loved and missed. Please leave memories of Munro or condolences for his family in the Guestbook below.