Corinne Roberts Ware

Corinne Roberts Ware, retired professor at the Episcopal Seminary of the Southwest, died of heart failure Tuesday, February 17, 2015, at Westminster Manor in Austin, Texas. She was 82 years old and will be remembered as a loving mother, devoted friend and faithful teacher.

Born May 16, 1932, in Brownsville, Texas, Corinne Ware graduated from Brownsville High School and Baylor University. After rearing her children and having a successful career as an interior designer, she enrolled at The Episcopal Seminary of the Southwest in 1986. She received a masters in religion and then pursued her doctorate of ministry at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Ky. Dr. Ware was recruited to lead the master of arts and pastoral ministry program at The Episcopal Seminary in Austin. As director, she developed the program with characteristic grace and vision and attracted many students to the seminary's Center for Christian Ministry and Vocation.

In receiving The 2011 Durstan R. McDonald Teaching Award, Corinne Ware was described as a "faithful teacher, insightful author, friend and guide to students and a visionary leader."

Her courses in ascetical theology were foundational and formational for master of divinity students, and her study and research led to several distinguished publications in the field of spirituality, including St. Benedict on the Freeway and Discover Your Spiritual Type. These and other books of hers continue to be important guides to priests and laity throughout the Church. The Corinne Ware Reading Room was dedicated at the seminary in 2013.

Many of Dr. Ware's devoted students still remember the prayer she offered before each class:

"Make us present to thy Presence and accompany our thoughts. This is asked in believing hope of the indwelling Spirit."

Dr. Ware was preceded in death by her son, Brooks Browning Ware, and is survived by daughters, Suzanne Ware Luper and Camille Ware Kress, and grandchildren, Jenny Corinne Luper, Max Roberts Luper, Caleb Browning Kress, and Molly Mayer Kress, and great granddaughter, Evelyn Wren Wilkens.

The funeral service will take place at 10:30 AM, Friday, February 20, 2015, at St. David's Episcopal Church, 301 East 8th Street, in downtown Austin. Graveside service will follow at Austin Memorial Park Cemetery, 2800 Hancock Drive. Memorial donations may be made to The Episcopal Seminary of the Southwest in Austin, Texas, or the charity of your choice.

May the soul of Corinne Roberts Ware be bound up in the bonds of Eternity, and may her memory be a blessing.