Elmer Myrl Warren,

Elmer Myrl Warren Jr. passed away Monday, February 15, 2010, at the age of 90. Myrl was born on May 15, 1919, in Shawnee, OK . He grew up in The Great Depression and joined the U.S. Air Force in 1941. He became a P-38 fighter pilot in 1942 and was shot down over North Africa by ground fire where he was taken as a prisoner of war for over two years in 1943. He was held in Stalag Luft III in Poland, where he aided in The Great Escape. Holding Psalm 91 very close to his heart, Myrl made it through his very difficult P.O.W. years. He recited this Psalm to help him through, especially those hard nights that he found himself in solitary confinement. It was there that he learned God's grace and eventually made it home safely. As the Allied Forces were advancing, he was moved to Stalag 7A and was liberated in Moosburg, Germany in 1945. Myrl also served during the Korean War from 1950 to 1953 with one of his duties being a squadron commander. He was a highly decorated officer and retired in 1962 as a Lieutenant Colonel. He was incredibly proud to serve his country. Following retirement, Myrl traveled all over the world which included helping to build a huge dam in Cashmere -- which borders Pakistan and India -- to better the living the conditions for its citizens. When he was back in the States, he helped to council other prisoners of war. Myrl was a loving husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather. He could never get enough of his family and always wanted his family to visit so he could give them all a big hug. He encouraged us all through our difficult times and clung close to his relationship with Jesus until the very end. He was tough as nails with a heart of gold. Myrl was a survivor, and he owed it all to Jesus. He was so full of marvelous, almost super-natural stories, but we all learned quickly that it was through the super-natural Jesus that these stories could be true. Myrl was a fighter. He loved and lived to the fullest extent until the very day he passed away. He taught us all how to fight for what we want and believe. He is an example of how a person can live a long and blessed life through perseverance, love, and Jesus. It will be impossible to fill the hole that such a great man could leave, but we are left with knowing that he has joined his son and wife in heaven and is dancing with Jesus as we speak. He has passed this life and will never have to know pain or suffering again. He was a loved man, and we will all miss him unbelievably until the day he meets us at Heaven's gates with huge loving arms. We are left with ultimate respect for the man he was and is. We thank God for the long life Myrl lived. We are so blessed and honored to have known him and to have spent so much time with him. Myrl is survived by his sister, Ellen; his daughter, Susan Warren; his daughter-in-law, Sara Warren; his grandchildren, John and Shiloah Warren; and by his five great-grandchildren, David Warren, Dawn Warren, Kasia Pearce, Matthew Pearce, and Benjamin Pearce. Visitation will be held from 10:00-11:30 am, Friday, February 19, 2010 at Sunset Funeral Home-West. Graveside Service will be held at 2:00 pm, Friday, February 19, 2010 at Memorial Pines Cemetery, Sunland Park, NM. Services entrusted to Sunset Funeral Home-West.