Two days before his 18th birthday, Warren joined the Navy where he traveled over 64,000 miles aboard the USS Oxford - "The Blue Ox" to New Guinea, New Caledonia, Solomon Islands, The Philippines, Okinawa, and back again.
After discharge in 1946, Warren attended the University of Washington where he honed his skills as an artist. He made ends meet working as a draftsman with Boeing Aircraft.
Warren's true passion was the arts. He danced professionally throughout the United States and Japan. He also pursued a second career in costume making. During this time he met another dancer, Verlie Mae Cooper - the one true love of his life. She was petite and beautiful and went by her professional name - Jasmine. Warren and Jasmine were married on October 28, 1958. The joke in the family was that Jasmine picked this date, the same as Warren's birthday, so he would never forget their anniversary.
For several years, Warren and Jasmine continued dancing throughout the United States. In June, 1961 they purchased a home in Rohnert Park, California. One month later their only child, a daughter, Valerie Michelle was born. In 1965, as Valerie was reaching school age, traveling as professional dancers ceased.
Jasmine's dream was to own a wig salon and in 1965, Jasmine's Lavender Wig Salon opened in Napa, California. While "blending hair" at the Salon, Warren and Jasmine also found time to nurture their sewing talents taking classes and eventually teaching stretch and sew classes. In 1974 they left the wig business and with a business partner opened Whaley's Fabrics in Sebastopol, California. A second store in Ukiah, California opened in 1977. This is where their talent for quilt making and designing blossomed. Warren's mother had taught him the art of quilt making back in Bigfork, usind a treadle sewing machine. Warren and Jasmine flourished at their craft. Teaching classes, giving lectures and designing patterns. Their expertise in machine piecing; at a time when traditionalists believed that piecing had to be done by hand. Their work was published in national quilting magazines. Jasmine's specialty was hand quilting - winning awards for eveness of stitches and "stitches per inch."
Sadness came in April, 1988 when Jasmine passed away suddenly after an almost complete recovery from a brain aneurism.
Warren continued teaching patchwork and quilting classes throughout California. In 1989 he was diagnosed with kidney cancer. After surgical removal of his right kidney - he was given a clean bill of health.
In 1997 he sold his house and moved to Vancouver, Washington to be closer to his daughter and two grandsons. They purchased a house large enough for Warren to setup shop with a studio large enough for his quilting machine, sewing machines and "enough fabric to open another fabric store." He joined two quilt guilds, and began teaching at several area quilt/fabric stores.
He had a close knit group of friends -- playing pinochle every Friday afternoon and going to breakfast every Sunday morning. He traveled to Hawaii several times with best friend, Fred Sasai. Warren and Fred also traved to California and Arizona. Fred traveled all over the Northwest with Warren going to various quilt shows. Rumor has it that Fred even began making quilts!!
In 1999 the kidney cancer returned and Warren had 1/3 of his remaining kidney removed. He came through with flying colors again beating the odds - no other treatment needed and no dialysis for kidney function. Sadly, heart blockage and metastases of cancer took Warren from this earth on January 18th, 2003. Although the last few months had seen a marked decrease in his physical activities he remained mentally alert and maintained his wonderful dry sense of humor.
Warren shared with his daughter the day before he died, how lucky and blessed he'd been in his life - to see and experience the things he'd seen. To "do all the things I've been able to do, to meet all the people I've met, to have the wonderful friends I have." He spoke about his love for his family and he didn't want to leave but accepted that it was his time. He ended the chat with one of his favorite lines - "that's the way the cookie crumbles."
Clark County Quilters will miss our friend, Warren. He will be remembered for his love of the arts and the beautiful legacy of quilts to be enjoyed many generations to come.
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