Lester L. Warriner, WA7HAM - SK

December 21, 1926 March 23, 2015

Lester L. Warriner, age 88 of Prosser, entered into rest on March 23, 2015 at Cottage in the Meadow in Yakima.  He was born on December 21, 1926 to Herbert Rosco Warriner Sr. and Gertie (Van Arendonk) Warriner in Grandview, Washington where he was raised and educated.  He quit high school in his junior year to join the U.S. Army Air Corps and they sent him to Montana State University to study general engineering.  He was then stationed at Kessler Air Force Base in Mississippi where he trained as crew chief, B17 mechanic and pilot.  During his forty-three year military career, he also served at Elmendorf Air Force Base in Anchorage, Alaska, flying the Aleutian Chain; served at Fort Monmouth in Red Bank, NJ where he became an electronics expert; and then traveled back to Alaska where he performed radar maintenance.  After his retirement as Master Sergeant, he served in the Air National Guard for the State of Washington.  Les married Mathilda Schaper on August 24, 1963 in Seattle and was employed at Boeing as a Molecular Engineer and worked with Bill Gates personally.  Les and Mathilda lived in Seattle, Burien and Federal Way before retiring and moving to Prosser in 1988.   

Once there, They raised Scottish Highland cattle and turned his farm into a wild life refuge, including blue eye goats.  He enjoyed photography, jewelry and doll making among other things.  Les donated the property in Whitstran for the Benton County #3 Fire Station and was Guardian at Lidem for the Benton and Franklin County Superior Court.

Les was an amateur radio operator, WA7HAM and electronics teacher.  The Housel Middle School was his project as well as instructing others in amateur radio and electronics.  He was active in the American Radio League of the Tri-Cities and Lower Yakima Valley. He was also a member of MARS (Military Amateur Radio System).  Before retiring, Les worked for Philco, Boeing and Panasonic.

Lester was preceded by both of his parents; step-mother, Roxie; daughter, Jeanette Durst; sister, Ruth Hall; his first wife, Marie Killian; his second wife, Diane Martin in 1958; grand-daughter, Irene (Deni) Halverson; and great-grandson, Ryder.

 He is survived by his wife, Mathilda Warriner; daughters, Carol Anne Huntley of Olympia, Roberta  Loeck of Tacoma, Dolly Gene Knickerbocker of Orlando, FL; Jocelyn Beth Warriner of Federal Way and Lee Anne Warriner of Whitstran, sons, Cecil Lee Warriner of Richmond, OH, Herbert Dale Warriner of Idaho, Ryan Lee Warriner of Kent, Lester Lee Warriner II of Kennewick, Timothy Lee Warriner of Whitstran; brother,  Herbert R. Warriner of Prosser; great-granddaughter, Cynthia Anne Warriner at home in Whitstran, as well as many grandchildren, great-grandchildren; four great-grandsons;, nieces and nephews; thirty-seven foster children; and many friends.   

A Memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, April 2, 2014, at Grandview Church of The Nazarene.