Harold J. Warren, Jr.

Harold J. Warren Jr., age 98 of Wilberforce, Ohio, died at Miami Valley Hospital in Dayton Ohio, on May 9, 2022.  He was born February 10, 1924, the son of Dr. Harold J. Warren Sr., and Mrs. Regelia C. Warren, both of whom preceded him in death.  He was a native of Huntington, West Virginia, and spent his early years in that city prior to leaving for college in 1941 at the age of 17.

Keenly interested in the pursuit of knowledge, and always a good student, he held degrees from Georgetown University in Washington D.C., and the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque, New Mexico.  He also completed three semesters at West Virginia State College prior to being drafted into the Unites States Army in World War II.  As a soldier, he matriculated at Hampton University in Hampton Virginia, completing an accelerated course in Engineering under the Army Specialized Training program (ASTP).  The program was designed to develop specific skills of Army servicemen who possessed high I.Q. scores and the ability for advanced learning.

Scholastically, Harold was a connoisseur and practitioner of the arts.  He was a published poet, a musician (trumpet player in college band), an actor in art dramas in college and he participated on debate teams.  He loved history and creative writing and was a voracious reader.

He represented the epitome of class, stature and dignity.  His conversations and interpersonal communication skillsets held the interest of many. He was always impeccably attired, self-confident, yet kind-hearted, giving and never haughty or pretentious.  

Harold fought in ground combat duty against the Nazi German forces in Italy in World War II. 

He was a proud member of the 92nd Infantry Division, known in the Army since the 1860’s

as the famed “Buffalo Soldiers.”  His basic training was at Fort Sill, Oklahoma in Field Artillery. His specific organization was Company K, 370th Combat Infantry Regiment, 92nd Infantry Division.  His knowledge of foreign language served him and his fellow soldiers well in Italy.   

He was a very humble servant but was thrilled to be recognized as a WW II Buffalo Soldier and the National Park Services’ special Buffalo Soldier volunteer at the Charles Young Buffalo Soldiers National Monument shortly after its official designation by President Barack Obama. While he never sought the limelight, he did enjoy the opportunity to share his insight about his years in the service.  He was once quoted as saying “History is very, very important and once the public is removed from the actual learning experience…the public doesn’t know what went on in the past.  So much in the past, of course, always influences the future.” 

Harold was an exemplary American citizen. He believed that the problems the United States had in its evolution through two and a half centuries would be overcome in time by the basic, elemental fairness of most American people.

He was a strong family man, and set the example of what a good husband, father and patriarch of the family should be.  He respected the basic human dignity of everyone, irrespective of the level of education or income, racial, ethnic or religious identity, or social standing.  He wanted to be remembered simply as a “good guy.”

His professional experience included Federal Civil Service positions at several locations in Ohio, including the Defense Electronics Supply Center, Shelby Depot and Wright Patterson Air Force Base. He retired from the Air Force Logistics Command (AFLC) at Wright Patterson after serving as a Personnel Management Analyst.  He also spent one year teaching college in West Virginia and also one year teaching high school in that state too. 

He was a member of First Evangelical Lutheran Church in Xenia, Ohio, for more than fifty years and served in various leadership capacities in the church from 1965 through 2000.  He wrote the history of the church that was published in the year 2000.  He also took care of his wife during her ongoing illness for seven years before her death.

He was preceded in death by his loving wife of 62 years, Deloras Lee Warren, and his sister, Yvonne Warren Brown of Cincinnati, Ohio.  He is survived by a daughter, Janice E. Gairy and her spouse John of Yellow Springs, Ohio, and two sons, Harold J. (Pancho) Warren III of Dayton, Ohio, and Lee A. (Tico) Warren and his spouse Elaine Quijano, of Wilberforce, Ohio and Merida, Mexico.   He is also survived by grandchildren Nakia Warren, Stacey Warren, April Cowin, John Cowin, Adriana Warren, Lance Warren and Lindsey Warren; Nieces Pam Williams-Briggs, Terri Williams Miller, Toni Williams Moore, Shellee Fisher, and Tracy Singletary; Nephews Don C. Brown and Tony Brown, as well as maternal first cousin, Nancy Carter, and paternal first cousin, Antoinette Warren; and numerous great grandchildren and several great great grandchildren in addition to many dear friends and neighbors in the Wilberforce, Ohio community.

The family wishes to thank the medical and staff professionals of the Veterans Administration at the Dayton VA Medical Center for care throughout his final year, as well as the professionals at Friends Care Community of Yellow Springs, Ohio for a short period of time.

A private Memorial Service and Celebration of Life will be announced at a later date.  Ashes will be entombed at Woodland Mausoleum with arrangements handled by Donald Jordan Memorial Chapel of Dayton, Ohio.

In lieu of flowers and planting trees consideration of memorial contributions may be made to the Charles Young Buffalo Soldier National Monument in Wilberforce, Ohio, First Evangelical Lutheran Church of Xenia, Ohio or the Disabled American Veterans (DAV).

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