Frances Golden Ware

Methodist family. Her parents were Frances Elise Hay Golden and John Roscoe Golden. Her

grandfather (on her mother’s side), Stephen John Hay, was an early mayor of Dallas, 1907-1911.

An only child, Frances was educated in the Highland Park School system and graduated from

Southern Methodist University in 1944. She was a member of Kappa Alpha Theta and

Secretary of the Student Body, a Rotunda Beauty and school Favorite. As an alumna she

served a full three-year term on the SMU Alumni Board and on the Executive Board of

Dedman College. She also served terms on the Advisory Board of The Friends of the

SMU Libraries. Upon graduating from SMU she taught English in the Highland Park

School system. Married to Dr. Elgin W. Ware, Jr., in 1946, she is survived by their

children, Bettina Hennessy and husband Dan, Dr. John R. Ware and wife Cindy,

all of Dallas, and Dr. David L. Ware of Galveston, Texas. She is also survived by four

grandchildren, two step grandchildren, six great-grandchildren, and three step great-

grandchildren. During her marriage she was involved with volunteer work in the medical

community and in their children’s schools. Later she became immersed in activities

supporting SMU and her church community. Her conversion to Roman Catholicism

took place in 2000, partly encouraged by her desire to accompany fourteen of her

descendants to Sunday worship. After her family, church, school and friends, her loves

were music and books. She enjoyed being active in numerous social, civic, educational,

and charitable organizations, among them the Dallas Woman’s Club, The Dallas Garden

Club, The Garden Study Club, The Matheon Club, The Lyceum Club, the DAR, and the

Daughters of the Republic of Texas. She has served on the Altar Society of

Christ the King Catholic Church, and she was a season subscriber to the Dallas

Symphony. Frances died peacefully in her sleep after a very brief illness during

which she was surrounded by her loving family, friends, and neighbors. Among

her very last words were these: “I have a great deal to be thankful for.” Visitation

service will be Wednesday, 7:30 p.m. at Sparkman-Hillcrest on Northwest Hwy.,

and funeral will be Thursday morning, 10:00 a.m. at Christ the King Catholic Church,

8017 Preston Road. Memorial donations may be made to Christ the King Church, or

to J. Roscoe Golden Scholarship/Dedman School of Law or S. J. and Mary Hay Scholarship/Meadow School of the Arts: SMU, P.O. Box 223927, Dallas, TX 75222-9972.