Sarah Marie Warthen

Sarah Marie Warthen, a loving wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, died peacefully on August 26, 2026 in Fort Myers, Florida, just a few weeks after celebrating her 96th birthday. Sarah opened her eyes to the realm of glory where she has been welcomed into the arms of Jesus and reunited with George, the love of her life.

Sarah’s life began in 1930 in Louisiana. It was there, in the city of Opelousas that, as fate would have it, a fun evening of dancing at the Moonlight Inn would set the course for her future. George, arriving at the dance with an Army buddy, spotted Sarah and it was love at first sight. This is no exaggeration- as the story goes, the first words he spoke to Sarah were, “Hi, my name is George. Will you marry me?”

The rest is history and the two lovebirds were married in April of 1954. They welcomed their first child, a daughter, in 1955 and went on to have 3 additional children- 2 daughters and a son.

George and Sarah’s love story stretched on over the decades and as they grew old together, they welcomed grandchildren and great-grandchildren. George and Sarah were inseparable- for many years they operated a U-Haul business together. They complimented each other well and no matter how much time went on, George still thought Sarah was the prettiest lady in the room. She was his sweetheart and theirs was a beautiful romance until George’s passing in 2022 after 68 years of marriage.

Perhaps the greatest joy of their lives, aside from being proud of the family they built, involved a special hobby that eventually blossomed into a thriving ministry. Sarah and George, both devoted, lifelong Catholics, generously spent years of their retirement together building and painting handmade wooden toys to give to children in a nearby migrant community. George carefully crafted firetrucks, cars, rocking chairs and pull toys and as he finished each precious toy, Sarah painted them, pouring love and care into every detailed stroke of her brush. Year after year, the toys became cherished Christmas gifts for the local children in need and of course the grandchildren received several of these fun toys to enjoy as well.

Sarah will be most remembered by her family for her joyful, playful, steadfast love for George, and for her good sense of humor. While George was one to always tell stories and fill the room with laughter, Sarah shared the ability to enjoy a good laugh.

Her grandchildren will never forget the time she had a eureka moment and figured out why her feet were hurting on her wedding day so many years ago. For decades, the family had noticed there was something just a bit off about George and Sarah’s wedding photo- she was surely a beautiful bride. But there was something- something just not quite right with her pretty white shoes. The mystery was solved some 50 years after the wedding as Sarah stood around the kitchen table alongside her daughter and grandchildren looking at old photos. As she pulled out a special one, everyone gazed at the beautiful, old wedding photo. Sarah recounted her memories of that day, reminiscing about wedding day nerves and about how her feet were hurting during the ceremony. Well it was at that moment the puzzle pieces fit right together and Sarah realized that she had walked down the aisle wearing her wedding shoes on the wrong feet! No wonder the photo always seemed a little off and her dogs were barking that day! Oh how she laughed. She laughed so hard that tears rolled down her face. Everyone let out a big, long belly laugh.

Sarah may have had a little mishap with her shoes that day, but she certainly got the most important thing right on her wedding day- marrying her George. Sarah’s family is comforted to know that as they say goodbye to her, George is ready to dance with her again, this time with comfortable shoes, no doubt. And after they finish the special dance George saved for her these past 4 years, Sarah will surely have a table full of toys lined up for her paint.

Sarah was preceded in death by her husband George Warthen and is survived by her 4 children, 9 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren.

A Mass of Christian Burial for Sarah will be celebrated at St. Andrew Catholic Church, 2628 Del Prado Blvd S, Cape Coral, FL 33904, (239) 574-4545, at 11:00 AM on September 11, 2026.

After the conclusion of Sarah's Funeral Mass, friends and family will recess from church and travel to Coral Ridge Memorial Park and Cremation Gardens, 950 Chiquita Blvd. S, Cape Coral, FL 33991, (239) 283-0540. Following graveside prayers of committal and commendation, Sarah will be laid to rest in the Garden of Honor alongside her departed husband George who, in 2022, sadly preceded her in passing.

To share a story, leave a tribute or to offer condolences to the family at this difficult time, please visit Sarah's memorial webpage at www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/13016580 and sign her guestbook.