Midwest couple spends retirement at centurylink sports complex
Cora and Larry Ware spend six hours a day at their small ice cream stand. The retired couple greets countless fans entering CenturyLink Sports Complex each day. Samantha Johnson // Ball State Spring Training
Samantha Johnson / March 22, 2017 / Ball State Spring Training
FORT MYERS, Florida – “One cookies and cream?” asks Cora Ware, 77. “That’ll be $5.”
Cora and her husband, Larry Ware, have spent the past 20 years of their retirement in sunny Fort Myers where they now work six hours a day selling Dippin’ Dots ice cream at CenturyLink Sports Complex, spring training home of the Minnesota Twins.
Cora wipes the counters, refills products and handles the money, while Larry scoops the four flavors of ice cream. Their system is efficient, as their small stand stays busy throughout the game.
Story continues below video
FORT MYERS, Florida – “One cookies and cream?” asks Cora Ware, 77. “That’ll be $5.”
Cora and her husband, Larry Ware, have spent the past 20 years of their retirement in sunny Fort Myers where they now work six hours a day selling Dippin’ Dots ice cream at CenturyLink Sports Complex, spring training home of the Minnesota Twins.
Cora wipes the counters, refills products and handles the money, while Larry scoops the four flavors of ice cream. Their system is efficient, as their small stand stays busy throughout the game.
Story continues below video
After retiring while living in the Midwest, the two were “looking for something to keep busy.” Core, who is originally from Lafayette, Indiana, says this part-time job in Fort Myers fits well into their Florida lifestyle.
“We like baseball, and we love the beach,” Cora said. “When we aren’t working, we try to make it to the beach once a week.”
Cora attended Purdue University and later became a pharmacy technician. Originally from Norwalk, Ohio, Larry studied at Ohio State University and worked for many years making furniture. He will turn 80 years old in May.
At the beginning of their retirement, the Wares spent seven summers working in Dollywood, but wanted to escape the mountains. They decided to apply for a few positions within the Florida ballparks system and landed a donut stand at CenturyLink Sports Complex. It has since changed to ice cream.
The Wares do not just work during the month of Major League Baseball Spring Training. During the spring and summer months, the couple also works at Ft. Myers Miracle games, a minor league affiliate for the Minnesota Twins that shares the same facility outside of spring training.
Even when it's not the Twins playing, the stands can be just as packed.
“It can get busy on summer nights,” Larry said, “especially if there are fireworks.”
These games total a few days per month during the summer, and after September, it’s back to the good life for the Wares.
“Once those games end, we are retired again until March,” Cora said.
The Wares said they have no plans to quit working anytime soon. For the next few weeks, Cora and Larry will be hard at work greeting fans of all ages and serving ice cream with a spoon and a smile.
“We like baseball, and we love the beach,” Cora said. “When we aren’t working, we try to make it to the beach once a week.”
Cora attended Purdue University and later became a pharmacy technician. Originally from Norwalk, Ohio, Larry studied at Ohio State University and worked for many years making furniture. He will turn 80 years old in May.
At the beginning of their retirement, the Wares spent seven summers working in Dollywood, but wanted to escape the mountains. They decided to apply for a few positions within the Florida ballparks system and landed a donut stand at CenturyLink Sports Complex. It has since changed to ice cream.
The Wares do not just work during the month of Major League Baseball Spring Training. During the spring and summer months, the couple also works at Ft. Myers Miracle games, a minor league affiliate for the Minnesota Twins that shares the same facility outside of spring training.
Even when it's not the Twins playing, the stands can be just as packed.
“It can get busy on summer nights,” Larry said, “especially if there are fireworks.”
These games total a few days per month during the summer, and after September, it’s back to the good life for the Wares.
“Once those games end, we are retired again until March,” Cora said.
The Wares said they have no plans to quit working anytime soon. For the next few weeks, Cora and Larry will be hard at work greeting fans of all ages and serving ice cream with a spoon and a smile.
