William Warthen's Obituary
William Harold “Hal” Warthen, son of Cecil T. and Fannie Elizabeth Wicker Warthen, was born February 3, 1930, in Essex, Missouri. He departed this life Monday, January 22, 2007 in the General Leonard Wood Army Community Hospital, Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, at the age of seventy-six years, eleven months, and nineteen days. On January 31, 1953, Hal was united in marriage to Dorothy Frances Ganz, and to this union four children were born. He was preceded in death by his parents, five brothers and three sisters. Hal is survived by his wife, Dorothy, of the home; three sons, David Warthen and his wife, Debra, of Springfield, Missouri, Rick Warthen, of Valrico, Florida, and Russ Warthen, of Riverview, Florida; one daughter, Kathy Francavilla and her husband, Bob, of Commerce Township, Michigan; seven grandchildren: Georgia Mae, Tyler, Zachary, Rachel, Brittany, Doug and Dylan; a brother, Edgar Warthen, of Waterford, Michigan; two sisters, Ida Mae Hayes, of Washington, Missouri, and Helen Eiceman, of Maryland Heights, Missouri; as well as a number of nieces and nephews. Hal was born and raised in Essex, where he attended a one room school. He worked at odd jobs before entering into the United States Air Force in May of 1947. Upon retiring from the Air Force, he then went to work for the Honeywell Corporation in Michigan, where he worked for sixteen years before moving to Grovespring, Missouri in 1986, where he raised cattle and enjoyed his love for the Missouri Ozarks. He attended McBride Church where he enjoyed his church fellowship. He was a former member of the Grovespring Lions Club and Volunteer Fire Department. In his spare time, Hal enjoyed hunting, and loved to tinker on various items around the farm. Hal was a loving husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle, and was a caring neighbor and friend. We celebrate his life and accomplishments and will treasure the wonderful memories he has created for his family and many friends. Services will be held at 1:00 p.m. Thursday, January 25, 2007, in the Holman-Howe Chapel, Hartville. Burial will be in Shaddy Cemetery. Visitation will be held Wednesday evening from 7 - 8:30 p.m. under the direction of Holman-Howe Funeral Home of Hartville, Missouri.
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