Fred Allan Warner

Fred Allan Warner lost his valiant, 4-year battle with cancer on Wednesday, September 18, and slipped into the arms of Christ, surrounded by his family and many friends who stood vigil. This brave soul fought with grace, dignity, kindness and humor against a disease that drastically changed our lives. Rarely did he complain. Instead, he prayed, loved, smiled, joked, laughed, refused to give up, and was grateful for the many blessings in our lives. No matter how painful, Fred walked into the Texas Oncology clinic in Rockwall every Monday morning and greeted the healthcare professional with a smile. He was always hopeful that his lab work would show a positive change so that he would not have to endure a transfusion that week, but that never happened. He resigned himself to the inevitable and accepted it gracefully.

Fred was born on April 9, 1946, in Danville, Illinois, the son of Harold Kenneth Warner and Laura Mae Pilkington Warner. He attended numerous elementary schools around the country due to his father’s work and graduated from Catlin High School in Catlin, Illinois in 1965. He was in the top 10% of his class, a member of the National Honor Society and the High School football team. Fred attended one semester at the University of Illinois Urbana before venturing to Missoula, Montana, to pursue a degree in forestry. He was active in ROTC, participated in the annual Foresters’ Balls, expanded his knowledge of forestry at Camp Lubrecht Experimental Forest north of Missoula and graduated with a BS Degree in Forestry in 1970. Following graduation, Fred attended Boot Camp in Washington State. A knee injury during training cut short his plans to follow in the footsteps of his father and uncles and serve in the US Army. Fred and I met in 1968 and were married in 1970. We were looking forward to celebrating our 54th anniversary in November.

Tradition was extremely important to Fred. He loved God, his family, friends, and his country. He placed great importance on holidays, family events and birthdays. He took great pride in playing Santa and delighted in handing out the gifts to the youngest members of the family. The day before Thanksgiving he would be busy making home-made noodles, macaroni and cheese and Heavenly Hash. Christmas required a standing rib roast, and he slaved over his mother’s recipe for Glumpkies, a must on New Year’s.

Fred worked for Diamond International in Coeur d’ Alene, Idaho, 1971-1973 and spent most of his time working in the forests marking trees, surveying and fighting an occasional forest fire. In December of 1973 he was hired by Weyerhaeuser Lumber in Dallas and worked in sales for that company until 1984. He then joined his father’s Concrete Construction Co. before joining Quality Doors in the Dallas area. Fred and Robert Suarez, a former co-worker and friend at Weyerhaeuser and Quality Doors, eventually started their own remodeling business. In his early years following graduation, Fred worked as a professional high school referee for basketball and football in Idaho and then in Dallas and north Texas. He also coached his sons’ basketball and soccer games.

Fred had a passion for sports, travel, and golf and played his last game with his brother, Dan, in the spring of 2024. He loved to ski and planned yearly family trips to New Mexico, Colorado and Montana. His guy trips were a hit with his sons and his friends. Fred was known for his annual 4th of July Fish Fry and Fireworks shows at the family home on Lake Tawakoni. He always prioritized caring and providing for his parents and his wife’s parents as they aged. He always made time to help someone in need and served his community as a board member of the Combined Consumer Water Co. in Quinlan, and once chaired the Parish Festival at St. John the Apostle Catholic Church in Terrell. Fred had many lifelong friends and was always adding new names to that list. Fred was a one-of-a kind guy who excelled at nurturing relationships and not speaking against another person, evidenced by his number of friends. His cup was always ½ full and he was grateful for his life.

Fred is survived by his wife, Susan, their son, Eric Warner, his wife Andrea (Andie) and their son, Everett, son, Jeremy Warner, his wife, Jennifer (Jen) and their daughter, Charlotte Ruth, affectionately nick-named “Wreck it Ralph Ette” by Fred. Papa Fred and Grandpa Fred were his favorite titles, and music to his ears. Fred was so very proud of his sons and the men they became. He instantly fell in love with Andie and Jen when they joined the Warner family and he took them into his heart as his daughters.

Fred is survived also by his sisters Nancy Warner of Rowlett, TX, Donna White and her husband, Dave of Allen, TX, his brother, Dan Warner and his wife Karen of Forney, TX, and numerous nieces, nephews and great nieces and nephews in north Texas and around the country. Fred is also survived by the many dear and wonderful friends who have been such a joy in his life and have sustained Fred and his family during this difficult time.

The family would like to thank the numerous Doctors, Nurses, and Healthcare Professionals at Baylor Scott and White, Texas Oncology, and Texas Health Presbyterian who provided such loving care throughout Fred’s illness.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you consider a donation to the Leukemia/Lymphoma Society.

Services for Fred will be held at 11:00 AM, Friday, October 18, 2024, at Hiett’s LyBrand Funeral Home in Wills Point, TX.

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