Charles Robert "Bob" Warren
Marriages
Ilene Ages Warren - 1948
Died in 1991
Burial Details
Obituaries
Service bulletin
Charles Robert "Bob" WARREN was born in the little mountain town of Red Cliff, Colorado on May 28, 1922. He was the third of nine children born to Ray and Marie WARREN, and they were a close knit and loving family. His brothers and sisters included Ray, Everett, Lottie, Ella, Stewart, Lavinia, Gordon and David. Growing up in a small town with a large family and a plethora of friends was the best of worlds for Bob and his siblings.
Bob began working in the woods alongside his father and older brothers when he was 12 years old. He quickly developed a love for the mountains and logging that would stay with him for the rest of his life. Those early years of falling and bucking trees with hand saws and skidding and hauling logs with horses were, he said, some of the best years of his life.
When not working, Bob roamed the mountains on foot and horseback. He loved hunting, fishing the high lakes and streams observing wildlife and exploring the alpine wonderland that surrounded his home.
After graduating from Red Cliff High School, Bob was drafted into the Army in 1942. He served in General George Patton's Third Army in France and Germany laying communication wire. He had several close calls, and on at least three occasions, found himself behind enemy lines.
Bob's father had purchased a sawmill and wanted to go into business with his sons after the war. He died in 1946, however, before his dream could be realized. But Bob, along with two older brothers, Ray and Everett, and a friend named Frank ROBINSON formed the Warren Brothers and Robinson Lumber Company. Within about a year, they became supplier of mine timbers for the huge Eagle Mine nearby. After Bob's older brother, Ray, was called back into military service and his partner, Frank ROBINSON became ill, Bob and his brother Everett continued to run the logging and sawmill operation until they closed down in 1968.
Bob married Ilene AGES on April 4, 1948, and they enjoyed a good life together. They purchased a log home from Bob's uncle, Tom COLLINS. It nestled in a beautiful setting down in a hollow at the junction of Eagle River and Turkey Creek, and Bob loved that home. He simply had to step out the back door to cast a fly line into the river.
After they closed their sawmill and logging operation in 1968, Bob and Everett both went to work for the Vail Ski Area. In the summer they cut trees to clear new ski trails. In the winter, they operated snow cats to pack and groom the ski trails.
In 1987, Bob and Ilene began taking care of Josh DAVIS, the son of Sue and Dallas DAVIS, a friend who worked with Bob at Vail. Ilene died on January 15, 1991, after 42 years of marriage. But Bob continued to take care of Josh during the day while his parents worked. Bob and Josh developed a close bond that continued until Bob died.
In 1999, Bob sold his house in Red Cliff and moved to Leadville, Colorado. The years of operating a chain saw and working outdoors summer and winter took their toll, and Bob had both hips replaced. That did not stop him from enjoying his beloved woods and mountains, however. Always the consummate woodsman, he used walking sticks and continued to hike and explore the old logging and mining roads in his Jeep.
In 2009 he had a heart valve replaced. This limited his mobility, yet he continued his outdoor walks and remained an ardent observer. Bob also enjoyed visits from family and friends. He had a good memory and could recall people and events from his earliest years.
While preparing to go to lunch with his friends, Dallas DAVIS, Bob died of heart failure on November 6, 2012. He was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers, Ray and Everett, and his sister, Lottie.
Bob's ashes will be scattered in an aspen grove above Camp Hale where his wife, Ilene's ashes were scattered.
Vail Daily page A8 - November 10, 2012
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.
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.
