Eugene “Gene" Warring, 92, passed away peacefully on Monday, May 21, 2018, in Mariposa, CA.
Gene was born on June 21, 1925, at his family home at Buckhorn Ranch, located in the Santa Clara Valley near Fillmore, CA. His great-grandfather, Benjamin Warring, settled in this area and developed several acres of citrus in 1861. Gene was born to Lester and Bessie Warring and was the youngest of five children. His brothers Jack, Leland, Bill and his sister Anita preceded him in death.
At 17, Gene volunteered to serve in the U.S. Navy. He served from 1943 to 1945 aboard the USS Chincoteague as a Radioman and received a Purple Heart. The most memorable event in Gene’s experience during the War was witnessing the raising of the United States Flag on Iwo Jima.
After returning from the war in the Pacific, he married his high school sweetheart, Gloria Mauck. He always said he wanted to marry Gloria from the first time he saw her at a Fillmore High School dance. They were married in Las Vegas, NV on July 7, 1945. Together they made their home in Fillmore and had four children, Christopher, Kathleen, Crystal, and Philip. Gene worked for the local Union Oil Distributorship for several years and later was offered an opportunity to work for the family-owned business, The Warring Brothers Citrus Ranch. He moved his family into his childhood home at Buckhorn Ranch where they lived for 7 years. In 1965, he and Gloria became owners of the 76 Union Oil Distributorship in Fillmore and worked together until their retirement several years later. After retirement, he enjoyed traveling with his wife in their RV taking in the beautiful country that he loved. These were always his favorite memories and stories to share.
Gene was a natural athlete. He enjoyed playing golf and swimming, but his passion was pitching a “mean” softball! He loved the game, but especially the camaraderie it brought. He was always very humble and modest about his pitching abilities, but he was very well known throughout Southern California for his “fastball." His love for the game continued as he coached his son in Little League for several years. He was also known for his sense of humor and love of life. His laugh was always very contagious. One that, when you heard him laughing, you just couldn’t help but laugh along with him.
Gene is survived by his wife Gloria of 73 years; his three children, daughter Kathleen (Vernon) Crofford of Mariposa, daughter Crystal (Gary) Cox of Mariposa, son Philip (Jessica) Warring of Milbrae; seven grandchildren, Leah (Ron) Zawadzki, Kelly (Ryan) Rettig, Summer (Justin) Gish, John (Gianna) Cox, Seth (Leanna) Cox, Alexander Warring and Sam Warring; and nine great-grandchildren, Kenzie, Ben, Jack, Joe, Kate, Violet, Leo, Micah, and Ezra; as well as many nieces, nephews, and other relatives who loved him dearly.
Gene loved people and his family. He will be greatly missed by all those blessed to have had him in their lives.