Ware family connects with Stockdale roots

Members of the Ware family explore the Stockdale Historical Museum with museum President Kassie Dixon (left), during a May 17 family reunion tour to Stockdale, the home of one of Texas’ early female physicians, Dr. Ella Ware. COURTESY/Judy Akin Childress

On May 17, descendants of Dr. Ella Ware, Wilson County physician, celebrated their family reunion on the premises of the Stockdale Historical Museum. The families enjoyed reminiscing about their childhood days and Dr. Ella Ware, who was born May 13, 1870, and lived until Oct. 29, 1958.

“We were honored to host a Ware family reunion,” said Kassie Dixon, Stockdale Historical Museum president.

“Ricci Ware Jr. organized us as a stop on his family’s reunion tour,” Dixon added. “They also visited the Stockdale Cemetery and a Ware family homestead that still stands in town. His brother, Trey Ware, San Antonio radio personality, also was in attendance.”

Ricci and Trey are the sons of the late San Antonio radio personality Ricci Ware Sr., whose grandfather, Richard McClure Ware Sr., was a brother to Dr. Ware.

Ricci Jr. spoke to all the descendants about his childhood days living in Stockdale’s watermelon country. He loved living in Stockdale. He spoke of Dr. Ella Ware’s office, now a museum for all to visit.

He shared that Dr. Ware, a female country doctor, delivered 6,000 babies in Wilson County.

Ricci spoke of the city’s founding fathers’ dedication to hard work in building a community by working together.

He led the families in a visit to the historical gravesite of Dr. Ware and other ancestors’ memorial sites in the Stockdale Cemetery. For this family reunion, it was a beautiful “glimpse into the past.”

Judy Akin Childress told short stories of her memories of Dr. Ware, and Shirley Dudley also shared stories of the Ware family.

Ricci thanked Dixon for initiating the Texas State Historical Marker honoring Dr. Ware, unveiled in 2023 at the museum on Main Street in downtown Stockdale.

This article is shared in memory of Clara Reyes Ortiz, 1937-2025, who was delivered by Dr. Ware. Clara would grab her garden hoe and clean weeds from Dr. Ware’s gravesite; she also volunteered at the museum.

A big thanks to Susie Lerma, Maria Deleon, and Patsy Marquez, members of the Stockdale Historical Museum.

Kassie Dixon also contributed to this article.