Dates
I arrived January 28, 1943 in Brownfield, TX, by the first cesarean birth performed in Terry County, to my beloved parents Velma Mamie Holleman Warren and Tom David Warren, Jr. from Plains, TX.
Growing up on the farm, in 1953, I exhibited the first reserved grand champion steer in the first Yoakum County Livestock show. Ten years later, in 1963, I served as executive director of the same livestock show in Yoakum County.
I attended Plains High School and played football. The school won its first and then its second district championship in school history. Both years, the team advanced to the quarter finals playoffs.
In 1966, I was drafted into the U.S. Army, advanced and ranked quickly to become E5 Sergeant, assigned to Viet Nam, just in time for the TET offensive in 1968 and served with an intelligence company located in the Macon Delta. During this time, as a courier, I traveled alone to MACV Headquarters Soc-Trang, Republic Viet Nam, picked up a locked briefcase while on assignment and then blended in with all the other Gl's moving around to hop a flight back to the Delta, sometimes taking two or three flights to get back. This company acquired the nickname "Sneaky Pete". My call sign was kgtiger. When home, served as commander of the American Legion Forest McCargo Post 585 from 1972 to 1980 in Plains, TX.
Farming in Plains until 1979, I then went to work with Anderson Grain Corporation and managed three grain elevators simultaneously, one in Smier, Levelland, and Ropeville. I took a lateral move from the agricultural division to the lawn and garden division with Zipp Industries.
In 1984, I married Jane Tiner Dawson on November 31 in Odessa TX. Six years later in 1990, we transferred to Scottsdale, Arizona and I took charge of the western division for Zipp Industries. In 1993 was appointed to the board of directors of the Arizona Nursery Association. In 1996, elected Man of the Year by the nursery association, and in 1997, was elected to chair the prestigious California Horticulture Committee, a part of the California Nursing Association.
Retired from Zipp Industries on June 3, 1999 and wrote my memoirs entitled Meanderings. Moving to Prescott, Arizona as a real-estate agent, J also, as an avid historian, did a short stint as docent at Charlotte Hall Museum, plus served as vice president of Highlands Pine
Homeowners Association. In 2003, Jane and I moved to Colorado Springs, CO where we were close to family and started Helping Hands, a food ministry, while attending Village Seven Presbyterian Church.
Moving to San Angelo, TX in 2007, we attended St. Mark's Presbyterian Church where I became an ordained elder, and then later transferred to First Presbyterian Church to establish a local Angel Food ministry affiliate. With support from the community, the food service ministry became very successful before the Atlanta, GA headquarters folded.
While in San Angelo, I wrote and published short stories which were picked up by churches, magazines such as Just Labs, and the local newspaper. I continued writing up right up until my death.
Survivors: I leave my wife of 33 years Jane Warren; two daughters Jennifer Gwen Kenney of Hurst, TX and Leslie Jo Mendoza of Lubbock, TX; granddaughters Jessica Kenney, Woodlands,
TX and Madison Mendoza, Lubbock, TX; grandson Brie Kenney of Dallas; nephew Paul Doyal, Houston and niece Shana Doyal Lane; step-daughter Leslie Schwager (Tim Schwager), Colorado Springs, CO, step-grandson Randy Schwager (Emma) and step-great grandson Bill Schwager, Boston; and numerous cousins. Proceeded in my death are my parents Tom and Velma Warren, and sister Carolyn Warren Doyal.
A Memorial Service will be held at 11:00 AM, Wednesday, May 31, 2017 at Harper Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Bill Proctor officiating. The Graveside Service will be in Plains, TX at the Yoakum County Cemetery on Thursday, June 1, 2017 at 1:00 PM.
"Death is that black horse that someday comes into every man's camp and no matter when that day comes, a brave man should be booted and spurred and ready to ride."
—Captain Buck O'Neil, Troop A, 1st US volunteer Calvary