Edward (Clyde) Warrington, 89, of Mayberry Village in Sylvania, Ohio, and formerly of Cleveland, departed this life in the early morning hours on Friday, Dec. 10, 2010, at Hospice of Northwest Ohio.
He was the sixth of eight children born to John and Mary (Rahrig) Warrington in Toledo, Ohio. Following his graduation from Whitmer High School in 1939, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1940, where he served for six years and attained the rank of chief.
After completing basic training at the U.S. Naval Training Station, Great Lakes, Ill., he was assigned to the USS WASP. In his time on that ship, he was the navigator, guiding the vessel through the Atlantic and Pacific theatres of World War II. On Sept. 15, 1942, the WASP was the target of three Japanese torpedo attacks at Guadalcanal. In an act of courage and bravery when the WASP was ultimately sunk, he gave his life preserver to a fellow shipmate who was unable to swim. He survived by floating on a mattress in the Pacific Ocean for approximately six hours before being rescued by another ship in the convoy. Forty-six aircraft were destroyed aand 193 men lost their lives during the battle.
For the remainder of his enlistment, he was assigned to the USS Cascade, the USS Earl V. Johnson, and the USS Frybarger. During his service he was decorated with the Philippine Liberation Ribbon, American Campaign Medal, World War II Victory Medal, Bronze Battle Star, European African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal, Honorable Service Button, Honorable Discharge Emblems and others.
Upon his discharge in 1946, he worked for Ohio Bell Telephone Company. At a New Year’s Eve party in December 1946, he met Toledoan Marie Teresa Lasak, daughter of George and Marie Lasak, whom he married on Aug. 23, 1947. They shared 53 years together until her death in 2000.
For the majority of his working years, he was employed by E.I. DuPont de Nemours. He was also a partner in the Wesson Garage Co. When he retired in 1979, he and Marie relocated to Cleveland, where they made a new life together in the Great Smoky Mountains. There they enjoyed a slower pace and gardening, country music, cribbage games and traveling.
He developed a talent for fine carpentry in his retirement and over a 30-year period he made thousands of items which he gave away to family, friends, and Navy shipmates at the many reunions that he and Marie attended. Though he was frequently asked to sell his fine crafts, he refused to do so, and would only give them.
Together, the couple organized the first reunion of WWII Navy personnel who served on the USS Earl V. Johnson. During the war, he collected photos taken by J.J. Jordy, the commanding officer on the Earl V. Johnson; in 2005 he and his son-in-law, Jon Saunders, created a website for sharing those photographs: http://picasaweb.google.com/108856597101310924161/DE702EarlVJohnsonWWII#
He is survived by four daughters: Marie (Adrian) Reimers, Kathleen, Janet Warrington (Jon Saunders) and Barbara (Jon) Wiemer; two foster children: Denise Swanbrow and Debbie (Xavier) Quenaudon; 10 grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; three sisters: Grace (Heloise) Warrington, Ruth Rendsland and Rose (Barbara) Lakics.
He was preceded in death by two brothers: Nathan and John (Pete); and two sisters: Virginia (Jean) Schultz and Mary (Addie) Wirwahn preceded him in death.
Visitation with family and friends will be held at St. Therese Catholic Church in Cleveland on Thursday, Dec. 16, 2010, 10:30 a.m., with a Mass of Christian Burial at 11:30 a.m. Interment at Chattanooga National Cemetery with military honors will follow.
A celebration of his life will also be held on Saturday, Jan. 15, 2011, at Mayberry Village in Sylvania, Ohio, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
The family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to Hospice of Northwest Ohio, 800 S. Detroit Ave., Toledo, Ohio 43609.
Know Ye All That
“Edward Warrington, Chief”
Is a true salt, a man of the sea, and a real sailor.
As a trusty seagoing seaman he has sailed over one hundred thousand miles of the Atlantic Ocean, the Pacific Ocean, and in the Mediterranean, Caribbean, Solomon, Sulu, China, and Philippine seas.
He has visited in Europe, Africa, and Asia, and has been in Bermuda, Bizerte, Palermo, Panama, Bora Bora, Manus Island, Hollandia, New Guinea, Biak, Mios Woendi, Leyte, Samar, Lugon, Manila, Subic, Kossol, Ulithi, and Okinawa.
He has truly seen the world.
Grissom Funeral Home has charge of the arrangements. To send an online condolence to the family, visit www.grissomfh.net.
