Thomas Warren, Sr.'s Obituary
WARREN, SR. THOMAS R., age 96, of Goodlettsville, TN, passed this life peacefully for his eternal home in Heaven on August 13, 2011 after a long and blessed life. He is preceded in death by his parents, John Goodlow and Victoria Matlock Warren, his beloved wife Lois Christine Warren, his son Phillip Elliott Warren and his siblings Dorothy Nieweg, Thelma Lane, John Calvin Warren and Edward "Goose" Warren. He is survived by his oldest son Tom of Goodlettsville, his daughter Barbara Dean Egan of Cincinnati, OH, grandchildren Donald Ray Wilson, Jr. of Arlington, TX, Tammy Renee Fambrough of Goodlettsville, Joseph Scott Wilson of Dallas, TX and Katherine Christine Higdon of Gallatin, TN, multiple great-grandchildren, his niece Vicki Warren of Nashville, great nephew John Dowdy Warren, his dedicated caregiver of the past two year, Linda Haley, and beautiful, kind friends too numerous to list. Mr. Warren was born in Humphreys County, TN on August 14, 1915, but his family moved to Old Hickory, TN when he was youngster, where he attended the public schools, roamed the spacious fields surrounding the tight-knit community during the 1920s with Garner, Raymond and Rob Robinson, and Froggy Smith, who played a variety of sports, ate watermelons and acted out childhood fantasies of cowboys and Indians, pirates, etc. In the summers and after school, he worked at the YMCA setting pins in the bowling alley and cleaning up in the pool room, as well as worked at the old Village theater, taking tickets and watching on boyhood heroes on the silver screen. In the late 1920s, he delivered 'The Tennessean' in Old Hickory, working for the legendary newspaper supervisor John North. Mr. Warren, well as his siblings, eventually went to work for the chemical conglomerate, following in the footsteps of their father, who began working at the old Dupont powder plant and powerhouse in the 1920s. During Mr. Warren's 32-year career at Dupont, he worked at both the rayon plant and later at the cellophane plant, where he retired in 1964. After a two- year stint as a campus policeman at Vanderbilt University, he later went to work with the Metropolitan Davidson County Sheriff’s Department in 1968, working 22 years as a civil process server in the Madison, Goodlettsville, Joelton area, before retiring at age 74 in 1989. Mr. Warren served in the United States Army during World War II, completing boot camp at Camp Forrest in Tullahoma, TN before being transferred to Camp Picket Air Base in Petersburg, VA for training and service in an anti-aircraft unit and air base security. He was honorably discharged returned to Nashville and eventually met and married the love of his life, Lois Christine Patterson- a union that produced two sons to compliment a daughter each partner brought to their marriage in 1948. The family of six resided for years in the Inglewood community of East Nashville. As an adolescent, his passion for baseball was fueled by boyhood idol Babe Ruth and the New York Yankees, a zeal that he enjoyed all his life. One can only imagine the meaningful moment for Mr. Warren in the 1930s, when he had the unique opportunity to meet both Ruth and Lou Gehrig, when they played an exhibition game at Sulfur Dell on a Yankees return trip from Florida spring training. In 1928-29, Mr. Warren played American Legion baseball, where his prowess as a feared batter was recognized. He later played 15 years in the Dupont-sponsored baseball league, where he consistently batted between .375 and .400. In his golden years, he became an avid fan of the Nashville Sounds and the Atlanta Braves. He also enjoyed bowling, a sport he routinely got to enjoy working for 15 years as the night manager on weekends at the Madison Bowling Alley and country music, an inherited pleasure from his father. "Tommy" as he was known to co-workers and innumerable friends was a dedicated family man of modest means, who had an infectious joy for life, exhibited by his humor, his Cheshire Cat grin and his delightfully-engaging conversations with family, friends and even strangers. Those who knew him best saw a loving, sweet, kind soul- a gentle man with a warm heart. In recent years he attended the fellowship of Millersville's Church of Christ, where he was embraced not only because of his sparkling personality but because of his indomitable spirit to live every day to the fullest. These precious memories he has left behind represent his legacy and will be cherished by family and friends. Family visitation will occur from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, August 16th and Wednesday, August 17th from 9 to 11 a.m. A Celebration of Life for Mr. Warren will be conducted at the Spring Hill Funeral Home in Madison, TN at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, August 17, 2011, with interment beside his devoted wife at the adjacent cemetery. Reverend Bob Mowrey, a family friend of more than 40 years, will officiate the tribute. Honorary pallbearers will be members of the Davidson County Sheriff's Department. Active pallbearers will be members of Millersville's Church of Christ.
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