MARY JANE WARE HOWE

San Antonio, Texas - Mary Jane Ware Howe, retired Professor in the Department of Reading and Education at San Antonio College, passed peacefully in San Antonio, Texas, on July 30, 2025. Mary Jane was born on March 26, 1942, the eldest child of Morton Gause and Margaret Agnes Guleke Ware (Dolly) of Fort Worth, Texas. She is reunited in spirit with Robert Crozier Howe (Bob), her beloved husband of over 30 years.

A lifelong educator and believer in equal opportunity, Mary Jane used her formidable intellect in service of others, first teaching in public schools in Dallas and Austin and then teaching all levels as a Reading Specialist at San Antonio College over a storied 30-plus year career. Of her many faculty activities, she cherished serving as the sponsor of the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society for 14 years. She stated, “I feel that teaching is a most challenging and rewarding job. It is my chosen life’s work.” A proud graduate of Fort Worth public schools, she pursued her studies at Texas Christian University and then the University of Texas at Austin, where she graduated with a B.A. (1964) and M.A. (1968) in English. She was the recipient of numerous awards and honors throughout her education and career.

She met her husband, Bob, whom she called her “D,” in Fort Worth, and they remained deeply in love through the decades. They lived in San Antonio and enjoyed travel, especially to Switzerland and Germany, where they attended the family reunion every other year. A thoughtful, loving, and fun aunt, known to all as “Sister,” Mary Jane instilled curiosity and an appreciation of culture in the next generation. She was warm and welcoming to all people, with a beautiful smile and a twinkle in her eye.

A patron of the arts, she was a devotee of the opera and described the symphony as “healing.” Other interests included literature, theater, museums, current events, history, and trivia. Watching Jeopardy with her was a humbling experience! She also acquired a love of fans from her grandmother Agnes Seewald Guleke (Money). Mary Jane was a leader and creator in many organizations, whether teaching courses in the Opera Guild of San Antonio or serving as Tejas Leader as a young lady at Camp Waldemar.

Mary Jane was the family historian, a descendant of the Ware and Gause pioneer families of Fort Worth and the Guleke and Seewald pioneer families of Amarillo. In addition to her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by her brothers, George Gause Ware, James Morton Ware (Jim), and Robert Guleke Ware (Bob); her brother-in-law, John Henry Wendell, Jr.; and her “Monnie,” Johnnie Mae Wilson.

She is survived by her sister, Margaret Ann Ware Wendell (Bebe); two sisters-in-law; her aunt; many beloved cousins, nieces and nephews, and grand nieces and nephews; and dear friends.

Family and friends will gather from 12 to 1 pm Tuesday, August 5, in the Chapel at Harper & Lucas, formerly Robertson Mueller Harper, with a Funeral Service to begin at 1:00 pm. She will be laid to rest in the Ware-Howe Family Plot in the Live Oak Section of Greenwood Memorial Park.

The Funeral Service will be livestreamed at: https://video.ibm.com/channel/sFSUaknQDcd 

Contributions in her memory may be directed to the “Professor Mary Jane Ware Howe Endowed Memorial Fund” at San Antonio College. This fund benefits Phi Theta Kappa scholarships, the library, and related programs. Contributions may be mailed to the Alamo Colleges Foundation, 2222 N. Alamo, San Antonio, Texas, 78215, or made online at https://giving.alamo.edu/givenow.

The family wishes to thank her care manager, caregivers, and medical team who helped Mary Jane author her last chapter with grace. An additional memorial service will be held in San Antonio at a later date.