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Charles Robert "Bob" Warren, 1922-2012

Vail, CO Colorado

Charles Robert “Bob” Warren died Tuesday in Leadville.

He was born on May 28, 1922, the third of nine children born to Ray Earl and Christina Marie (Collins) Warren in Red Cliff. Bob graduated from Red Cliff High School and worked as a logger with his father and brothers. He married Ilene (Ages) Warren in 1948, and they enjoyed a good life together until Ilene passed away in 1991.

Bob was drafted into the Army in September of 1942. He served in the 89th Infantry Division of the Third Army under Gen. George Patton. He worked with a team laying communication wire for the 354th Regiment between division headquarters and regimental headquarters. Bob was nearly captured twice, once when accidently getting behind German lines and a second time when laying wire close to woods full of German tanks and troops. He witnessed the Third Army crossing the Rhine River and recalled it as a “wild night.” The Germans were fighting hard and firing 20-millimeter shells at American engineers who were building pontoon bridges across the Rhine.

After being discharged in April of 1946, Bob returned to Red Cliff. His father had purchased a sawmill for him and his sons to operate. But, his father died before they started operation. Bob and his two older brothers, Ray and Everett, formed the Warren Brothers and Robinson lumber operation with a friend, Frank Robinson. Bob loved working in the woods, felling trees with a handsaw and skidding and hauling logs with horses. They sold mine timbers to the Empire Zinc Co.’s Eagle Mine at Gilman. The logging and sawmill operation closed down in 1968 due to a lack of viable timber sales.

When they closed their timbering operation, Bob and Everett began working for Vail Associates. Ray Warren had been called back into active military service at the start of the Korean War. During the summers, Bob and Everett cut out ski trails on Vail Mountain. During the winter, they operated snowcats. Bob was in charge of the snowcat crew that groomed the ski trails. Bob retired from Vail in 1987 and moved to Leadville in 1999. He enjoyed fishing, hunting, hiking and horseback riding in the mountains and the high lakes.

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Bob is survived by his siblings Ella, Stewart, Lavinia, Gordon and David. He is preceded in death by his parents, brothers Ray and Everett and his sister Lottie.

Bob will be cremated and his ashes will be scattered in a beautiful aspen grove where he scattered the ashes of his wife, Ilene. A private family memorial service will be held at a later date. Bob requested that anyone wishing to make a donation make it to a charity of their choice in his name.

Bailey-Kent Funeral Home of Leadville is assisting the family with arrangements.


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