Frederick Ware, Jr.

Frederick Anderson Ware, Jr., Ph.D., 87, passed away on Saturday, April 15, 2023, at Presbyterian Home in Quitman, GA. Born of American parentage in Melbourne, Australia on April 27, 1935, he was reared in Augusta, Georgia. Dr. Ware was Emeritus Professor of Management at Valdosta State University, having retired in December of 2012 after 42 years on the faculty.

Dr. Ware’s parents were Frederick Anderson Ware, Sr. and Runa Erwin Ware, late of Augusta, GA. He attended high school at the Academy of Richmond County and his senior year at Darlington School in Rome, GA. Fred graduated from the Georgia Institute of Technology, majoring in Mechanical Engineering; he was a member of the Chi Phi fraternity, serving as Secretary and Vice President. At Tech he was President of the Presbyterian Student Center and Business Manager of the Blueprint yearbook. He enlisted and served three years in the U.S. Army Ordnance Missile Command headquartered at Redstone Arsenal, Huntsville, AL, eventually receiving a direct commission as a second lieutenant. In 1961 Fred enrolled at Emory University, earning an MBA degree. He was employed by Lockheed Aircraft Corporation in Marietta, GA as a production design/value engineer and systems analyst until joining Valdosta State College in 1971. Fred completed his doctoral dissertation and received a Ph.D. in Business Administration in 1973 from Georgia State University.

At Valdosta State University, Dr. Ware was Director of the original MBA program and Chair for eight years of the Management & Information Systems Department in the School (now Langdale College) of Business Administration. He was a pioneer in developing computer software for controlling statistical requirements for business degree program accreditation. Fred served as Executive Secretary of the Faculty Senate, and received the University-wide Faculty Excellence in Service Award in 2007. He was a Fellow of the Southeastern Case Research Association and published a number of academic journal articles in his field. He received the Outstanding Teacher award by the Langdale College of Business Administration in 2010. Teaching, planning and administering study-abroad programs became a passion for Dr. Ware beginning in 1982, with a one-year leave of absence from Valdosta State to move his family to Europe, relocating and to teach in four different countries. Subsequently, he taught and led numerous summer study-abroad business programs from 1997 until retirement. Fred later served on the Council of the VSU Retirees Association and was a Director on the board of the Georgia Association of Higher Education Retiree Organizations.

Dr. Ware was involved in the local community including service twice as a ruling elder at First Presbyterian Church and more recently as an active member of First Christian Church. He was past president and a Georgia Rotary Student Program (GRSP) Will Watt Fellow of the Valdosta North Rotary Club; he and his family often were host family for GRSP international students at VSU. Fred was an associate member of the Lowndes/Valdosta Chamber of Commerce for over 40 years, having special interest in international exporting initiatives for regional businesses. He was on the State of Georgia’s Small Business Development Center Advisory Council. He supported the arts and served on the Board of Directors of the Valdosta Symphony Orchestra. While at Lockheed he was president of the Atlanta Chapter of the Society of American Value Engineers. Locally, he had been active in practitioner management training & development programs.

Fred enjoyed church activities, travel, the outdoors, sporting events, books, art, music, genealogy, and spending time with his family and friends. He was known to have attributed any accomplishments and his enjoyment of life as unwarranted gifts and blessings from God.

Fred is survived by his wife of 59 years, Rose Marie Voorhees Ware, a brother, Howell Cobb Ware of Birmingham, AL; children, Frederick A. Ware, III of Havana, FL, Laura LeBoutillier Michael (& Chris) of Owensboro, Ky, Runa Henderson Ware of Atlanta, GA, grandchildren, Addison Ware LeBoutillier, Evan Thomas LeBoutillier both of Owensboro, Ky, Miriam Greer LeBoutillier of Charleston, SC, Martha Lynn Michael (& Tawqir Soleil) of London, UK, Leah Madison Michael and Katie Dylan Michael both of Atlanta.

A Memorial service for Dr. Ware will be held at 2 pm on Saturday, April 22, 2023, at First Christian Church. The family will receive friends Friday evening, April 21, 2023, from 5 until 7 pm at Carson McLane Funeral Home. A private family interment will follow at a later date at Westover Memorial Cemetery in Augusta, GA. Memorial contributions may be made to First Christian Church, 1905 N. Patterson Street, Valdosta, GA 31602, Presbyterian Home Retirement Community, 1901 W. Screven St. Quitman, GA 31643, or the Break Bread Together- Meals on Wheels,313 N. Patterson St, Valdosta, 31601 . Condolences may be conveyed online at www.mclanecares.com. Carson McLane Funeral Home