CLINTON - Charles “Pete” Jefferson Ware, 79, died at 3:38 a.m. on Thursday, June 24, 2021, with his family by his side, at Liberty Village, Clinton.

He was born on May 7, 1942, in the family home on Main Street, in Clinton, to Orval D. “Jake” and Dorothy E. Sweazy Ware. Pete married Nelda Pearl Anderson on September 5, 1964. She preceded him in death on February 3, 2007. He was also preceded in death by his parents.

He is survived by his three children; daughter, Jennifer (Mark) Tarbox, Clinton, and sons, Christopher, Clinton and Curtis (Amy), Mahomet; three grandchildren; Mylee Tarbox, Clinton, Jonathan Ware and Anthony Ware, of Mahomet.

After high school, Pete went into the U.S. Army, ultimately serving as a Meteorological Observer in Greenland. Upon return home, he worked at Wallace Press/Computer Services until his retirement in 1997.

Pete enjoyed working on cars and tinkering on anything with a motor. He was always a fan of watching any kind of car race. He rode motorcycles over the years and thoroughly enjoyed hunting. He was a strong supporter of the Boy Scouts of America, serving as the W.D. Boise Council District Leader for Advancement for several years. Pete had been a member of the DeWitt County Sportsman’s Club.

All his life, Pete had a special love for dogs. The last dog he had, Zeus, was a rescue, and they couldn’t have been better suited for each other. In that spirit, the family requests any memorials be made to Second Chance For Pets, in Clinton.

Graveside services with military honors will be held on Wednesday at 1 p.m., in Woodlawn Cemetery, Clinton, by the Crang-Bennett American Legion Post 103. Evergreen Cremation Services is honored to assist the family.