Ron Warner was born March 21, 1927 in Chicago, Illinois to Thelma and Hal Warner. After enlisting in the US Navy as a teenager during World War II, he was honorably discharged in August, 1944. He subsequently attended Tulane University and the University of Oklahoma. At OU, he met and married Carolyn Rexroat. After a brief stint farming in Illinois, the Warners moved to Phoenix in March of 1952. Shortly thereafter, they opened a small furniture store. Through Ron’s entrepreneurial spirit and natural salesmanship and Carolyn’s organizational and managerial skills, the venture grew into one of the Southwest’s preeminent interior design firms – Warner’s Furniture and Interiors, which expanded to include Warner’s Designs for Business and Warner Imports.

Ron Warner’s life was devoted to his community, his church and his family. He chaired or served on the boards of numerous civic and charitable organizations,

including the YMCA, Arizona Boys Ranch, Good Samaritan Hospital/Samaritan Health Services (now Banner Health Systems), Arizona Commission on the Arts,

Phoenix 40, Salvation Army, NAACP, and the Phoenix Executive Club. A faithful and active lay leader, he served as Chairman of the Board of the First United

Methodist Church, Phoenix, and the School of Theology in Claremont, CA, for which he raised millions of dollars. He also led a fund-raising drive to save the

Methodist Pacific Homes from bankruptcy, preserving the life savings and homes of hundreds of retirees. Active in political as well as civic affairs, he was a founder of the Maricopa County Democratic Nucleus Club, and represented Arizona on the Democratic National Committee. Also known as a food aficionado, his famous French Pancakes were a special treat for family and friends.

A creative and tireless worker for the causes to which he was committed, he spent at least half of each day for most of his adult life working and leading in community service, and he loved every minute of it. If Ron Warner wanted your support for an organization or an event, it didn’t matter how many phone calls it took – he never gave up. Ron Warner is survived by former Arizona Superintendent of Public Instruction Carolyn Warner, and children: Cathy Ann Weatherford (Bill), Caron Suzanne Lieber (Bob), Steven Van Warner, Constance Kay Pepple (Rick), the late Christopher John Warner (Jo Ann), and Christi Mary Beyer (Paul); seventeen grandchildren: Jackie Gustafson, William Weatherford, Ryan Warner, Weston Warner, Ashley Lieber, Samuel Weatherford, Richard Pepple, Andrew Weatherford, Robert Pepple, Aaron Lieber, Grace Boerner, Rebecca Pepple, Joseph Weatherford, John Weatherford, Stephen Weatherford, Makaira Beyer, and Marshall Beyer; four great-grandchildren: Anna Gustafson, Lilia Gustafson, Ella Weatherford, and Mollie Weatherford. A Memorial Service celebrating the life of Ron Warner will be held at 2:00 PM on Saturday, October 1, in the Sanctuary of First United Methodist Church, Phoenix, 5510 N. Central Avenue. A Reception will follow in the Wesley Lounge of the Church. Services with be conducted by the Rev. Dr. Richard Cain, former Senior Minister of the Church and a long-time family friend. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that gifts be made in Ron’s name to these worthy causes: Ronald H. Warner YMCA Camper Scholarship, Arizona

Commission on the Arts, or the First United Methodist Church of Phoenix.