Ronald Wayne Warren was born September 25, 1949, to Joseph and Shirley Warren in Long Beach, California. His childhood home was located in Norwalk, California, where his parents lived for nearly 70 years. As a young boy he played Little League, worked a paper route and loved flying model airplanes. Vacations to Yosemite and Reds Meadow in Mammoth Lakes sparked a love for the Sierra Nevada mountains. Memories of seeing the Fire Fall off Glacier Point in Yosemite were seared in his mind as a youngster.
With the Vietnam War in full force, Ron enlisted in the US Navy a few months before graduating from high school. He reported for active duty in November of 1967. Boot camp was located in San Diego, California, where he stayed until April of 1969 while attending naval school in electronics and sonar systems. It was during this time that he pursued his love of airplanes by taking glider lessons.
In April of 1969 he was assigned to the USS Sample, a destroyer escort, home ported in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. He served in the Navy for six years, most of which were spent at sea in the Western Pacific or in Pearl Harbor. While stationed in Hawaii in 1971, Ron made his dream come true and took his first flying lesson in a powered aircraft. After earning his pilot license, he enjoyed the freedom of flying between islands, offering rides to friends and other sailors.
It was in September of 1972 that Ron was introduced to Holly by a mutual friend who lived in Hawaii. They were married on April 6, 1974, and settled in Norwalk, California. With a natural affinity for handiwork, a father in roofing and an uncle who was a plumber, they completed their own addition to the small house they called home. Ron continued his education in Electrical Engineering and earned his degree from California State University, Long Beach. During that time, their only daughter, Carrie, was born. He was immediately hired by Hughes Aircraft Company in Fullerton, California, and began working on the Navy's latest sonar system. Ron completed his Master's Degree in Electrical Engineering with an emphasis in digital signal processing in 1981 from USC.
That year Ron was also introduced to racquetball, which he played 2-3 times a week for 40 years. His love for the sport is now shared by his son-in-law, Eric, and grandsons, Nolan and Rhett.
In 1986, Ron moved his family to the nearby town of Downey, California. During the 1980's the defense industry boomed under President Ronald Reagan. Following his presidency, the aerospace industry suffered many lay-offs. Ron was spared from this, but Hughes Aircraft was sold to Raytheon Corporation. Ron eventually went to work for Hughes Space and Communications, Boeing and finally General Dynamics. He served as senior scientist for these companies and earned two patents during his career.
Most summers between the late 1970s and 1990s included a horse and mule pack trip to the high Sierras with family and friends. For a week they would camp above the tree line and fish in the back country lakes and streams. Hunting and fishing was always a part of life.
Ron loved working with his hands and being busy. Holly bought him a shirt that said, "If Ron can't fix it, no one can." His family sure agrees. Home additions and repairs never intimidated him. He seemed to love problem solving. In 1998 he invested in his first classic junker, a 1956 Chevy Bel Air, which he transformed into an award-winning show car. He eventually bought a 1935 rusted out Ford, which he overhauled and made into the beautiful blue hot rod it is today.
In 2005, while still living in California, Ron rekindled his love of flying and became a part owner in a Cessna airplane. A few years later, Ron took his father on a trip to Oklahoma to explore their roots. Somewhere over New Mexico the engine quit. After a harrowing descent, they managed to land safely in a field and were escorted by emergency vehicles through town to the airport for repairs. Amazingly, they continued their flight to Oklahoma and made special memories together that they cherished for the rest of their lives.
Ron continued to fly after following his daughter's family to Castle Rock, Colorado in 2013. Here, Ron partnered with Walt Vogl on an airplane, whom he had also bought his house from. They became special friends and flying buddies. During the 7 years he lived in Castle Rock, he and Holly attended Cornerstone Presbyterian Church before coming to Castleview Baptist. He gave of himself constantly to grandchildren, loving to create fun adventures and pass on woodworking and engineering skills. He would drop everything to help his family with fix-it jobs or watching the grandkids. Family always came first.
He is survived by his wife of 47 years, Holly; daughter, Carrie Bearly, and son-in-law, Eric Bearly; mother, Shirley Warren; brother and sister-in-law, Mike and Sandy Warren; and three grandchildren he adored, Nolan, Elena and Rhett.
While he was quiet guy, his friends and family knew him for the real, down-to-earth, dependable, fun-loving, caring, generous man of integrity that he was. His passing leaves a huge hole in our hearts. We ache while we are apart, but long for the day when we can be reunited in the presence of the Lord.
SHARE OBITUARY
v.1.8.18