Bob Warren

After 59 faithful years of marriage to his beautiful bride Helen, Bob Warren has taught his family the secrets of a lasting marriage. With commitment, acceptance, mutual love and respect, laughter, passion and intimacy, Bob and Helen learned to weather the good times and bad that run through married life.

Bob was born as Robert Warren, to Floyd and Vivian (Morris) Warren on June 27, 1922. It was a fun time in America, the beginning of the Roaring Twenties, with Jazz and dance being the highlight of American life. Bob grew up with his family in Winchester, Indiana where his father was Mayor and owned a credit bureau. He shared many of his childhood memories with his big sister Anne, who was two years older. As a school boy, Bob excelled academically, but he was also a talented band member and a great athlete. He was State Tennis Champion and a tall skillful basketball player.

Once he graduated from Winchester High School in 1940, Bob was excited to go on to Julliard School for the Arts where he played the clarinet and saxophone. After only a year or two at Julliard, Bob was drafted into the United States Air Force during World War II. He was stationed in the states and played in the band. One night, while playing at the Gunter Hotel in San Antonio, Bob's life changed forever. He saw an amazing woman beside her date (a Captain), and he knew he had to meet her. Feelings were mutual, and as Bob's saxophone swayed from his hip, they danced the night away. The song they most remembered that night was Dancing in the Dark, by Glen Miller. Over the years that song became one of Bob's favorite songs to play, especially to play for Helen.

While Bob was away in the Air Force, Helen moved to California to be with her sister. Bob and Helen corresponded through letters and shortly after he was discharged and returned home he planned to take a trip out to California to see her. Once he and his two buddies met up with her, he told them to go ahead and head back home because he wanted to stay there and marry Helen. Bob and Helen were so excited to be married. They, along with her sister and her husband, went into Hollywood to buy wedding rings and then headed off to Las Vegas to tie the knot. They were married on October 13, 1946 and stayed in Vegas after the ceremony for their Honeymoon.

They continued to live in California and Bob got a job at Northrop Aircraft. They moved in 1951 to Winchester, Indiana where both their children were born. Their son, Mitch came into the picture in 1952 and Marsha came along in 1958. By 1966, the family relocated to Portage, Michigan where Bob was transferred to Kalamazoo. After some convincing from a friend, Bob began working at the Brown Paper Company where he stayed until his retirement in 1985. That was the same year Helen retired from her work at the Upjohn Company.

Bob's natural love for his music led him to find ways to play for an audience. He had a band called the Starlighters in the early 1950's. They enjoyed playing big band and swing music all over the Midwest. The band also played 50/50, which meant that half the night they played big band and the rest of the night they played square dance music. Bob most recently loved playing at their church, Portage First United Methodist. He had a very strong faith and served in other capacities as well, like greeting, but his heart was in blessing others with music. Bob felt the music and preferred to skip rehearsal and get right down to it. He would tell the group, "let's just do it," and he was always right on note.

Later in life, Bob and Helen moved to Fairfield Glade, Tennessee, where they could spend time perfecting their golf game. Not surprisingly, Bob found a group of guys to start a band and they called themselves, "Nostalgic." He loved the band, but primarily he played at church. What was nice for Bob and Helen was that they had similar passions. They spent time together enjoying life. They loved going out dancing, playing in card clubs, playing dominoes, taking short trips together and volunteering at the local hospital. Once their precious granddaughter, Taylor came into the picture, they were happy to come back home and spend time with the family.

Bob was a huge animal lover. He loved taking Taylor to the zoo and he wouldn't hesitate to swerve out of the road to avoid hitting a squirrel. He was also a people person and he was always interested in what was going on in the lives of others. He had a wonderful ability to remember the little details about people. He had a great sense of humor, he was a skilled story teller, and a fun loving person who knew how to enjoy life. Bob was a "hipster," always being the musician, but he was more than that. Bob loved the Lord, his wife and his family. The greatest gift he gave to his family was his example of marriage. Bob and Helen truly lived a fairytale life as husband and wife. It was their mutual love and respect that won them 59 amazing years of marriage, two wonderful children, a precious granddaughter and a lifetime of tender memories.

Bob Warren was a great man and he will be forever remembered in the hearts of those who loved him.

Robert "Bob" Warren, age 84 of Portage, died on July 11, 2006. To view his Life Story film, and visit with his family and friends on Saturday from 4:00 - 6:00 p.m. at the Life Story Funeral Home, Betzler, Stadium Drive (West of US-131) 375-2900. A memorial service will be held Sunday, July 23, 2006 at 4:00 PM at Portage First United Methodist Church (8740 S. Westnedge ). He retired in 1985 from James Rivers. Bob was preceded in death by a sister, Anne Kelly. Members of Bob's family include his wife of 59 years, Helen Warren; two children: Mitch Warren of Kalamazoo and Marsha (Ken) Hunter of Portage; and a granddaughter, Taylor Hunter. Memorial contributions to the Portage First United Methodist Church or the American Lung Association.