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Friends and family will gather on February 28th to say farewell to a much loved father, grandfather, great grandfather, brother, and friend, Alan Ware, who passed away peacefully in his Watsonville home at the age of 88.  He was very proud of his family's history with Santa Cruz County and was a fourth generation Californian.  

Alan was born in Hollister on August 22, 1927 to Henry, who was a cowboy in Pacines during the Great Depression, and Paula Fitch Ware.  When Sonny (Alan's nickname) was 5 months old, they moved to Los Angeles, where his father was a double for Tom Mix.  When Alan was 2 years old they moved to Santa Cruz. He attended Gault Elementary, Branciforte Junior High, and Santa Cruz High School.   In July 1944, he went to the United State Maritime School, where Alan was trained on the 20MM Oerlikon, Anti Aircraft Gun and was a gunner on the Merchant Ships. 

After the war was over, he was discharged in 1945 and lived on Catalina Island for several years and was part owner in a floral shop  before returning home to Santa Cruz.  He worked for the City of Santa Cruz for a while before taking a job in Chico for Freeberg's Furniture Store when he was injured and spent a long time in the hospital with a broken back.  In 1955, he worked for the Modern Bakery where he met his good friend Themy Karachristos.  After that, he became a water treatment specialist with Dubois Chemicals and a career that spanned over 35 years and then retired.    

For many years, he enjoyed traveling with his daughter and granddaughter to horse shows and rodeos throughout California.  During his retirement he taught water aerobics to seniors at the YMCA where Alan "Rusty" Ware was awarded a plaque thanking him for his many years of service to the Watsonville Family YMCA.  He enjoyed going to the Watsonville Seniors Center and Tuesday night at the Mid County Senior Center.  He was proud to be a Republican and liked discussing politics.  He was the very first to purchase an American Motors AMX in California which he was very proud of.

He was a member and President of the Santa Cruz County Horsemen's Association, a member of the Elk's Club while living in Santa Cruz and the East Santa Cruz Lions Club.  Then when he moved to Watsonville he joined the Pajaro Valley Host Lions where he was Secretary-Treasurer for many years.  The weekend before he passed away, Alan was helping the Lions Club distribute presents to children.  He was a Life member of the Watsonville Pajaro Valley Host Lions Clubs, a Life Member of the Lions Project for Canine Companions for Independence, and a life member of the Western Lions Ear Foundation.  He received many awards such as Pajaro Valley Host Lion of the year, The Abdul Award-Lions Project for Canine Companions, The Melvin Jones Fellow for Dedicated Humanitarian Services, the Helen Keller for Outstanding Humanitarian Service in the Field of Sight Conservation. 

Alan is survived by three sisters, Jean O'Connell of Paradise, CA, Marilyn (Merle) Brown of Idaho, Kay Kumetat of Grass Valley, CA, a brother Dustin (Joyce) Ware of Redding, CA, his daughter and son-in-law, Honora and Rod Robertson of Soquel,  CA, daughter Jennifer Borges of Gresham, OR,  son Jeff Rom of San Jose, CA, 6 grandchildren, Darci Robertson (Wade) Agin, Frank (Kelsey) Borges, Scott (Katherine) Borges, Candice (Adam) Brophy, Jeff (Christina) Rom, Jr., Steve (Jamie) Rom and 4 great grandchildren  and a host of loving friends.

His family thanks Independence Square in Watsonville for all the wonderful and caring people whom befriended him while he resided there.


The family would like to invite his friends to a Celebration of Life February 28th at 2:00 PM at the Aptos Grange, 2555 Mar Vista Drive in Aptos.  Any kind acts of charity can be made in Alan's memory to either The Lions Project for Canine Companions for Independence, the Lions Eye Foundation of California-Nevada, Wat. or Mid County Senior Centers, Wounded Warriors Project.

When words can't fully express what we want to say, sometimes a small gift can. Visit our Memorial Store for personalized gifts, keepsake jewelry and to plant a memorial tree.

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H. Ware Obituary | Altogether