J. Garland Warren, beloved and cherished husband, father, grandfather and friend to many, passed away peacefully at his home in Martindale, Texas, on Monday, May 3, 2010, at the age of 74 surrounded by his loving family. He was born on May 19, 1935, in Bomarton, Texas, to James Oscar and Nanny Eliza (Thomas) Warren.
Garland graduated from Denton High School and he attended North Texas State University on a football scholarship. At the age of 16, he started his first business as a General Contractor building homes and fences. He continued his football career in the Canadian Football Club and played for the Winnepeg Blue Bombers, coached by Bud Grant. He then moved to San Marcos to build his first Sac-n-Pac Convenience Store. Other business followed, including Dixie Cream Donuts, B & W boot and Tack, B & W Salvage, B&B Stock Producers, North Fort Worth Horse Sale, Warren Fuel Co., Centerpoint Station. He also worked as a cattleman and horse trader. He was a member of the Emmaus Community, Texas State Touch Down Club and the Bobcat Club. He was very active in many civic and community organizations and he was an avid collector of antiques.
Garland will be dearly missed by his family and his many friends. His parents and siblings, Lena Barnes, Ray Warren, Sue Belt, Martha Boswell and Blanch Warren preceded him in death.
He is survived by his wife, Grace Warren; two sons, Blair Warren and wife, Kelly and Blake Warren and wife, Diane; daughter, Cheryl Warren Norton; stepdaughters, Stacy Land Kirkpatrick and Summer Maulden and husband, Stephen; brothers, Tom Warren and wife, Pat and Marion Warren and wife, Judy; sisters, Mary Scitz, Elwanda Meeker and husband, Harold and Nanza Shepelwich; ten grandchildren; his former wife, Janelle Grimes Warren; numerous nieces and nephews; and including other close family members, Bill and Tommy Carrell.
Family will receive friends from 6 - 8 p.m., Sunday, May 9, 2010, with a Celebration Service at 7 p.m. on Sunday, at the Calvary Baptist Church in San Marcos. A Celebration of Life Service will be conducted at 10 a.m., Monday, May 10, 2010, at the Embassy Suites in San Marcos, with the Rev. Dennis Spire officiating. Interment will follow at Memory Lawn Memorial Park in Martindale.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions in Garland’s memory be made to C.T.M.C. Hospice Care, 1315 IH 35-N, San Marcos, Texas 78666, or the Calvary Baptist Church, 1906 N-IH35, San Marcos, Texas 78666.
Arrangements under the care and guidance of Pennington Funeral Home. Guestbook online at www.penningtonfuneralhome.com.
