Warren David Walmer, 87, Winona Lake, passed away at 7:40 p.m. May 31, 2014, at Mason Health and Rehab of Warsaw. He was born April 30, 1927, in Marion, to John Henry and Mary Ketuarh McClintock Painter Walmer. On June 8, 1947, he married Josephine Clupper, of Wabash, who survives in Winona Lake. He was named Warren for his grandfather, Warren Bay McClintock, and David for his grandfather, David Allen Walmer. He lived with his mother and McClintock grandparents in LaFontaine and became a member of the Methodist Church. He joined the LaFontaine High School concert band, marching band and swing band, playing the tenor sax in 1940. He was also the president of his senior class, and graduated from LaFontaine High School in 1945. He attended Manchester College and was a member of the Manchester College Band. At the time when he was married he was employed by Sears, Roebuck and Co. and was promoted to sales in the plumbing and heating department. In 1952, he started a plumbing and heating business out of his home, which expanded into a wholesale company with locations in Wabash, Marion, Warsaw and Fort Wayne, which later became Walmer Supply Inc. After retiring from Walmer Supply in 1987, he became a United Methodist licensed pastor by completing a five-year course of study through Garrett- Evangelical Theological Seminary. His wife, who went to Manchester College as a music major, served as the pianist in most of their churches in north central Indiana. She played a variety of instruments and the piano. He served the church as a Sunday school teacher of youth and an assistant Boy Scout and Cub Scout leader. He was president of the Methodist Men, a certified lay speaker, reserve delegate to conference and an official board member. While assisting with Boy Scouts, their son, Robert, received the honor Eagle Scout for his Scouting accomplishments. He and Josephine were members of the Dick Wardwell “Starlight Band” in Wabash for three years with Josephine as the pianist. He was a member of a dance band in Wabash for Friday and Saturday occasions – he received the job because he could play by ear. He planned dinner hour music as a member of the Elks Club, and as a member of the Shrine Club in Fort Wayne he played in the concert and marching band. As a “Yorkright” he played in the marching band for the Indiana annual meetings. He was also a corporal in the Civil Air Patrol of Marion, where he became a licensed pilot of single engine planes. Warren became a member of Rotary International, Wabash, in 1958 and until his passing was still a current member of the Warsaw Rotary Club. He and Josephine became house parents through the Wabash Rotary Club for Adnan Moussallam from the City of Bethlehem, Jordan, and Jan Albert Dobbe from Holland City, Amsterdam. He was also a board member of Kosciusko County Right To Life, former board member of Kosciusko County YMCA, past president of Full Gospel Business Men and was an active member for many years with the Gideons. He received several awards from suppliers for meeting established sales goals, and received recognition for continuing education through college courses and selected training programs. He lived a full life and was able to travel the United States from coast to coast and to Canada, Israel, Greece, Egypt, Mexico, the Islands of the Bahamas, Hawaii, Jamaica, Portugal, South America, Great Britain and Europe. But most of all he loved his family. He and his wife were the parents of three children, who also survive: James (and spouse Carolyn) and Robert (and spouse Becky) Walmer and Sharon (and spouse Timothy) Wilson, all of Warsaw; 10 grandchildren: Ryan (and spouse Amy) Walmer, Mahomet, Ill.; Christian (and spouse Barbie) Walmer, Woodstock, Ga.; Jonathan (and spouse Amy) Walmer, Angola; Geoffrey (and spouse Karli) Walmer, Syracuse; Rob Walmer, San Francisco, Calif.; Nicholas Walmer, Portland, Ore.; Grant Walmer, Fort Wayne; Stephanie (and spouse Thomas) Boyd, Warsaw; Craig (and spouse Erica) Wilson, Plymouth; Sarah (and spouse Travis) Kempton, Grand Rapids, Mich.; 15 great-grandchildren: Ethan, Andrew, Kyle, Paige, Dawson, Grace, Loryn, Makenzie, Jaxon, Reagan, Caden and Owen Walmer; Justin Boyd; and Jaden and Tyler Wilson. He was preceded in death by his parents. Services will be at 10 a.m. Thursday at Redpath-Fruth Funeral Home, 225 Argonne Road, Warsaw, with Pastor Gale Janofski officiating. A graveside service will be at 2 p.m. Thursday at LaFontaine IOOF Cemetery. Calling is from 2 to 4 p.m. and from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home. ***** Memorials to The Gideons International, Memorial Bible Chairman, P.O. Box 766, Winona Lake, IN 46590-0766; Shriners Hospitals for Children, 2211 North Oak Park Ave., Chicago, IL 60707-3392; or to the Alzheimer’s Association, Greater Indiana Chapter, 50 E. 91st St., Suite 100, Indianapolis, IN 46240 and would be appreciated by his family. Condolences may be sent via www.redpathfruthfuneralhome.com
