Walter Eugene Warren, "Gene", born April 3, 1932 in Opapka, FL, passed away on August 11, 2012 at the Collinsville Rehabilitation Center with his family present.

Gene was a US Army retiree, veteran of both the Korean and Vietnam wars, having spent more than seven years "in theatre". He was a helicopter mechanic and all around soldier. He received numerous Army awards and medals including the Army Commendation Medal and the Bronze Star. Following his retirement in 1970, he went on to work for the Department of the Army in St. Louis for another twenty years. He was instrumental in working on a reverse osmosis process to create drinking water for troops in Desert Storm.

Gene overcame impoverished, humble beginnings and early loss of his mother, and tuberculosis to become a soldier, and executive, holding an MBA from Webster University (summa cum laude). But his greatest accomplishment was becoming a father a second time to his adopted children ans later grandchildren, especially Morgan Jane, who cared for him and his late wife, Jane, in their last years. She was their first grandchild and the apple of their eyes.

Gene wanted everyone to know that without Gail, his second daughter, he would have been lost when Jane passed. She helped helped him with his daily living, his complicated medical issues, and his finances. She was a blessing to him and he wanted that known.

Gene is survived by his siblings Calvin Warren, Lorraine Barnes, and Clark Warren; his six children, Walter (Glenda) Warren, Jr., Robert Warren, Tracy Hermanson, Gail (Dan) Wiemann, Gordon Warren, Glen (Dee) Warren, and nine grandchildren. He was proceeded in death by his parents Hollie and Virginia (Bogar) Warren.