He was born on October 1, 1940, in O’Neill, Nebraska. He was the eldest son of LaVerne Lillian (Hartford) Robertson and Dick Wilson Robertson. Warren lived on the family farm until his father passed away when Warren was eight. LaVerne later married John Allen Robertson. As a young teen, Warren worked in the Studebaker dealership that John owned, keeping it clean and even working in the parts department. He also had two newspaper routes and played in the school band. The family moved from rural Nebraska to San Jose, California, in 1956.
Moving as a sixteen-year-old was hard, but he excelled in school and played the cornet in advanced band and found a niche working as a bus boy at his Uncle LeRoy’s restaurant on 2nd street in San Jose. While in high school and college, he worked at the Studio Theaters as a manager. He graduated from Willow Glen High School in 1958 and attended San Jose City College and San Jose State University studying business.
Warren enlisted in the US Air Force in 1963 and after Basic Training, he went to Fort Belvoir, in Virginia. He spent any free time he had at the Smithsonian. The Army Corp of Engineers sent him to Lackland Air Force Base, Texas, to be trained as a Land Surveyor. After training, he was sent to Panama for much of his service time. As a Land Surveyor in Panama, he worked to accelerate regional development - clearing land and building a training facility in the jungle. After his military service, Warren had a long career with the Santa Clara Valley Water District. As a Registered Land Surveyor, he was the supervisor in the Right-of- Way Section of Engineering Services under Flood Control. He was instrumental in getting engineering computers in the Right-of-Way Section. Even when Warren retired from the District in 2003, he continued as a consultant for some time, and maintained his Surveyor license until present.
Warren enjoyed bowling and was a long-time member of a bowling league in San Jose. He was also an avid sports fan of the Giants, Warriors, and 49ers. He was a faithful diner at Carrows, where he met up with friends every morning, for years. He also traveled internationally to warm, sunny places. His time in Panama may have impacted his love for travel.
Warren is survived by youngest sister, Karen Sue (Robertson) Roberts and husband, Thomas L. Roberts, and their daughter Kimberly Roberts; brother-in-law, Robert Meeks (Karol Ann dec.) and their daughters; Tammy (Ken Shull), Michelle (Stephen Theard) and Debbie (Anthony Ventimiglia); and, sister, Elsa Lynne Adkins (Dale), and sons, David (Rachel) Adkins, Jason, and John (Michelle) Adkins. He is survived by cousins, Lance Sposito and Jenelle (Sposito) Morella (Reno); nephew Michael, (Suzannah) and Sarah Robertson; and many grand-nieces, grand-nephews, and one great-grand niece, Natalie, (Jon) and Alina Wenzel; Stephen, Glendy, Larissa and Jordin Shull; Marcus, Mia and Matteo Ventimiglia; Hailey Roberts, Sara Robertson, Kalista, Kenton, Jayce, Zane and Zoey Adkins; and extended cousins and family.
He was preceded in death by his parents, and siblings, Gary Dean, Bruce Alvin, and Karol Ann.
Those who loved him are grateful for the loving care he received at Garden Senior Care Home. He will be greatly missed. We are glad he is finally resting in peace.
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