Funeral services for Gene Ware, 79, of Climax, will be held Wednesday, April 29, at 11 a.m. at Climax Baptist Church with the Revs. Steve Poppell, Johnny Thomas and Kenneth Cloud officiating.

Interment will follow in Cedar Grove Cemetery with Joey Edwards, Dennis Poppell, Ron Betts, Michael Betts, Roger McMillan and Mike Gainious serving as active pallbearers.

Visitation will take place on Tuesday, April 28, from 7 to 9 p.m. at Climax Baptist Church.

Born Feb. 2, 1930, in Quincy, Fla., Mr. Ware died on Saturday, April 25, at Grady General Hospital in Cairo, Ga.

Mr. Ware grew up in Quincy and lived there most of his life before moving to Climax in 1990. He had worked as parts manager for M & M Tractor Company in Quincy for 19 years and started Ware’s Auto and Farm Supply in Climax in 1978. He retired in 2000.

He was a member of Climax Baptist Church, where he was a deacon. He led singing at Santa Clara Baptist Church in Quincy and at Climax Baptist Church for 48 years. He was an original member of the Climax Grand Ole Opry and a member of the Golden Agers.

Mr. Ware was preceded in death by two sisters, Wilda Abney and Mary Finuff; and three brothers, J.S. Ware, J.P. Ware and Alice Knight Ware.

Survivors include his wife of 60 years, Joyce Betts Ware of Climax; his son, Allen Ware of Bainbridge; a brother, Carl Ware of Sneads, Fla.; two grandchildren and five great grandchildren.

Cox-Ware Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.