Willis Burney Warren

Willis Burney Warren, passed away on January 2, 2009 at the age of 94. He was born in Cutler, CA on December 1, 1914. He first came to El Paso in 1929 after living in Long Beach, CA, Cotulla, TX and Camp Knox, KY. He graduated from El Paso High School in 1932, and worked for the Surebest Bakery in El Paso and Silver City, NM until 1942. Burney served in WWII from 1942 to 1946. He was in the Infantry where he rose from private to Captain, was wounded in Germany and was awarded the Purple Heart and Combat Infantryman Badge. Burney had a most enjoyable career with El Paso Natural Gas Company and its parent company The El Paso Company. His career began in 1946 as a clerk in the accounting department progressing to Chief Accountant, Assistant Treasurer, Treasurer, Director of the company, Vice President, Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, and President his final year before retirement in 1980 after 34 years with the company. During those years, he lived in El Paso, New York City, and Houston. Subsequent to retirement, he was an avid, but mediocre, golfer at the El Paso Country Club where he walked the course three times a week until his health ended golf at the age of 91. Burney was active in many industry related organizations and served as director of Providence Memorial Hospital for 12 years. He was founding director of Paso Del Norte Health Foundation as well as the initial Chairman of its Investment Committee. He was a member of University Presbyterian Church. Burney was preceded in death by his sister, Sue Warren Sullivan, his first wife, Ree Wells Warren in 1977 and his second wife, Evelyn Roberts Warren in 2001. Survivors include his son Charles Burney Warren and wife Carlene Maxey Warren, granddaughter Sheila Warren Hillier and husband Michael C. Hillier; great granddaughter, Sophia Ree Hillier and grandson Stephen Burney Warren and niece Flo Wells McGee and husband William McGee. Services will be at Sunset Funeral Home-West, 480 N. Resler on Friday, January 9, 2009 at 10:00 am with Rev. Dr. John M. Nelson, officiating. Interment will be private at Evergreen Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations should be sent to Paso Del Norte Health Foundation, 1100 N. Stanton, Suite 510, El Paso, TX 79902. Services entrusted to Sunset Funeral Home-West. Please visit our online register book at www.sunsetfuneralhomes.net.