BOMBER MEMORIAL

MARK EUGENE WARNER ~ Class of 1968
May 10, 1950 - August 15, 2012

~

Mark Warner, 62, of Milton-Freewater, OR, died Wednesday, August, 15, 2012 of injuries sustained in a motorcycle accident on Lolo Pass August 10, 2012, returning from a trip through Idaho, Montana and Canada.

Mark was born May 10, 1950, in Richland, to John, Sr. and Jane Warner. He attended school in Richland and graduated from Columbia high school in 1968. In 1972 he graduated from Central Washington University with a degree in education.

He lived in Milton-Freewater for 40 years.

From college he went to work for Lamb-Weston in Connell, later transferring to the plant in Weston, OR. He met his future wife Barb during this period and they were married in 1977. He later opened his own business, building high-quality wood stoves, child safety devices and firefighting equipment. In 1995 he joined the staff of the Washington State Department of Corrections at Walla Walla, supervising the metal fabrication shop. He was responsible for all aspects of the metal shop, which made metal fixtures and custom furniture for other institutions and for sale to the public sector, including all the shelving in the new Milton-Freewater Public Library. He was named Washington State Correctional Industries Employee of the Year in 2000. In 2006 he advanced to the position of classification counselor, the position he held until his death.

In his private life he was an avid collector of militaria, a prolific inventor and a musician.

Mark is survived by his wife, sons Ken (Danielle) and Shea (Tracy), mother Jane, brother John Jr. (Terry); grandchildren Zachary, Logan, Kody, and Colton; nephew and nieces Shawn, Shelley, Candy, Nikki, and Amanda; and a legion of friends and workmates who will miss him deeply.

He was preceded in death by his father John Sr. and brother Scott.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Walla Walla Community Hospice, the Blue Mountain Humane Society or the charity of the donor’s choice through Munselle-Rhodes Funeral Home in Milton-Freewater.

There will be a private service at a later date. Arrangements are pending with the Munselle-Rhodes Funeral Home in Milton-Freewater.