Virginia Grace Ware

In Loving Memory, Virginia Grace Ware passed from this life August 10, 2025, at 87 years young. She was born on December 5, 1937, to Arthur & Mildred (Sledge) Carroll in the rural area of Three Sands, OK, between Tonkawa and Perry. She was delivered by her maternal grandmother .She had one younger sibling, Eugene Carroll for years after her father passed. Until Mildred married John Carroll, a father of three, and to this union another beloved sister, Arletta was born. Virginia attended school in Ponca City where most of the Sledge family resided. On March 10, 1956, she married Jimmy Lee Ware after about a month of courtship. Jim was a Pawnee High School graduate and a member of the Ponca City Stolhand family. Jim worked as a welder in the storage tank fields,so in the early years, the couple spent most of their time traveling from job site to job site. After the birth of their 4" child in 1962, they purchased a home in Ponca City and resided there until 1974. Virginia was a full-time mother to three girls and two boys. All were born over the course of eight short years, so life was extremely busy for Virgina as Jim was usually on a job site. She was present at every event and every crisis for her children. For herself, she participated in bowling leagues, a past-time she enjoyed for years. In September of 1974, the family moved to Pawnee where Jim and his partners established Pawnee Tank Company. After the graduation of their youngest, Virginia returned to traveling with Jim until he retired. Over the course of her life, she visited over 40 states. Having a big family ultimately produced 16 grandchildren, 25 great-grandchildren & 4 great great-grandchildren. Virginia loved being a grandmother and babysitting was particularly special to her. Whether it was just a few people or a house full, family dinners were one of her favorite events along with going to country music dances, especially if Jim was playing. Embroidery brought her joy from creating tea towels to quilts, gifts made with time and love. Preceded in death by brothers; Eugene Carroll, Steven Carroll, sisters; Shirley Ardrey, Edna Marshall, son inlaw; Richard Rhynard. Virginia is survived by her husband of 69 years; Jim Ware of Pawnee; sister Arletta Reed of Tulsa; daughter's Teresa Rhynard of Ponca City; Debbie (Terry) Turner of Skedee; Carma (John) Lujan of Pawnee; son's; Jimmy(Beverly) Ware of Maramec; and Jack (Pamela) Ware of Lone Chimney area. Grandchildren: Steven (Janelle)Rhynard, Kyle (Jennifer) Rhynard, Guy Tumer, Crystal (Austin) Drumm, Joshua Clark, Shanna Lilly, Elizabeth Lujan, Rachelle (Brian) Borderlon, J.D. Buchanan, Scott (Jayme) Buchanan, Walter Ware, and Adam Ware. Bonus grandchildren; Chad (Anna) Kelley, Chance (Brooke) Tatum, Carl Don Jewell .Family wishes to thank the caregivers at Southern Oaks Nursing Home and the Hospice staff that cared for her.  A Celebration of Life will be held August 17, 2025 beginning at 1pm, at the Lone Chimney Community Center for Friends and Relatives .Services were entrusted to the Poteet Funeral Home And Cremation Services , friends can leave a memory for the family at www.poteetfuneralhome.com