Mr. Donald Ray Warren of Hartford passed away on Thursday, September 3, 2009 at his home. He was 77.
He was a member of the Blounstown Masonic Lodge for 53 years and had received his 50-year pin. He was also a member of the Order of the Eastern Star Loyalty Chapter 438 in Geneva, AL. He was born on April 1, 1932, in Calhoun County, FL.
Donald Ray, as he was most often called, grew up and spent his early years in the Broadbranch Community near Kinard in Calhoun County, FL. He served four years in the U.S. Navy and upon returning to his home place, he obtained a job at Tyndall Air Force Base. Later he became employed at Graham Air Base in Marianna, FL. He returned to school at Chipola College in Marianna and obtained his high school diploma. He started working at Fort Rucker in 1961; after 38 years, he retired from DynCorp Corporation in May 1999.
He loved to read and enjoyed the history of his birth county in Florida. In his early years, he loved to fish and hunt. His hobbies were working in his grapevines and plant propagation of fruit trees. He enjoyed his grandchildren and great grandchildren and spent as much time as he could with them. He will be greatly missed by his family and everyone who knew him.
He was preceded in death by one son, Donald Ray Warren Jr.; one brother, Charles E. Skipper; and his mother, Pearl Skipper.
Survivors include his wife: Lois Jeanne Warren of Hartford; one daughter: Elizabeth Jeanne Warren of Hartford; two sisters: Evelyn Rushing of Broadbranch, FL and Joyce Greene of Calhoun, GA; four brothers: Johnny Skipper and Reggie Skipper of Broadbranch, FL, Gerald Skipper of Grand Ridge, FL, and Tommy Skipper of Wewahitchka, FL; five grandchildren: Eida Ballard, Dwayne Warren, Rita Getz, Ryan O’Rourke and Heather Smith; six great-grandchildren: Nathan Miller, Kiah Smith, Krista Ballard, Troy Ballard, Lorena Getz and Whyatte Smith; several nieces and nephews.
Funeral services were held at 6:00 p.m. on Saturday, September 5, in Sorrells Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. John W. Withrock, Jr. officiating. Graveside services with full Masonic rites were held on Sunday at 2:00 p.m. in Cypress Creek Cemetery in Kinard, FL, with Sorrells Funeral Home of Slocomb directing.
Sorrells Funeral Home of Slocomb, (334) 886-7777, was in charge of arrangements. Please visit their website at
www.sorrellsfuneralhomes.com. to sign a guest register.
