Edward Warrington

Edward (Clyde) Warrington, 89, of Mayberry Village in Sylvania, Ohio and formerly of Cleveland, Tennessee, departed this life in the early morning hours on Friday, December 10, 2010 at Hospice of Northwest Ohio. Edward was the sixth of eight children born to John and Mary (Rahrig) in Toledo, Ohio. Following his graduation from Whitmer High School in 1939, Ed enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1940 where he served for six years and attained the rank of Chief. After completing basic training at the U.S. Naval Training Station, Great Lakes, Ill., Ed was assigned to the USS WASP. In his time on that ship, he was the navigator, guiding the vessel through the Atlantic and Pacific theatres of World War II. On September 15, 1942 the WASP was the target of three Japanese torpedo attacks at Guadalcanal. In an act of courage and bravery when the WASP was ultimately sunk, Ed gave his life preserver to a fellow shipmate who was unable to swim. Ed survived by floating on a mattress in the Pacific Ocean for approximately six hours before being rescued by another ship in the convoy. Forty-six aircraft were destroyed and 193 men lost their lives during the battle. For the remainder of his enlistment, Ed was assigned to the USS Cascade, the USS Earl V. Johnson, and the USS Frybarger. During his service he was decorated with the Philippine Liberation Ribbon, American Campaign Medal, World War II Victory Medal, Bronze Battle Star, European African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal, Honorable Service Button, Honorable Discharge Emblems and others. Upon his discharge in 1946, Ed worked for Ohio Bell Telephone Company. At a New Year's Eve party in December 1946, Ed met Toledoan, Marie Teresa Lasak, daughter of George and Marie Lasak, whom he married on August 23, 1947. Ed and Marie shared 53 years together until her death in 2000. For the majority of his working years, Ed was employed by E.I. DuPont de Nemours. He was also a partner in the ownership of Wesson Garage Company. When Ed retired in 1979, he and Marie relocated to Cleveland, Tennessee where they made a new life together in the Great Smokey Mountains. There they enjoyed a slower pace and gardening, country music, cribbage games and traveling. Ed developed a talent for fine carpentry in his retirement and over a thirty year period he made thousands of items which he gave away to family, friends, and navy shipmates at the many reunions that he and Marie attended. Though he was frequently asked to sell his fine crafts, he refused to do so, and would only gift them. Together Marie and Ed organized the first reunion of WWII Navy personnel who served on the USS Earl V. Johnson. During the war Ed collected photos taken by J. J. Jordy, the commanding officer on the Earl V. Johnson, and in 2005 Ed and his son-in-law, Jon Saunders, created a website for sharing those photographs. http://picasaweb.google.com/108856597101310924161/DE702EarlVJohnsonWWII# He is survived by four daughters, Marie (Adrian) Reimers, Kathleen, Janet Warrington (Jon Saunders) and Barbara (Jon) Wiemer, two foster children, Denise Swanbrow and Debbie (Xavier) Quenaudon, ten grandchildren, five great grandchildren and three sisters, Grace (Heloise) Warrington, Ruth Rendsland and Rose (Barbara) Lakics. Two brothers, Nathan and John (Pete) and two sisters, Virginia (Jean) Schultz and Mary (Addie) Wirwahn preceded him in death. Visitation with family and friends will be held at St. Therese Catholic Church in Cleveland, TN on Thursday, December 16, 2010 at 10:30 a.m., a Mass of Christian Burial at 11:30 a.m. and interment at Chattanooga National Cemetery with military honors will follow. A celebration of Ed's life will also be held on Saturday, January 15, 2011 at Mayberry Village in Sylvania, Ohio from 11:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. The family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Hospice of Northwest Ohio, 800 S. Detroit Avenue, Toledo, Ohio 43609. Grissom Funeral Home has charge of the arrangements. To send an online condolence to the family, visit www.grissomfh.net. Know Ye All That "Edward Warrington, Chief" Is a true salt, a man of the sea, and a real sailor. As a trusty sea going seaman he has sailed over one hundred thousand miles of the Atlantic Ocean, the Pacific Ocean, and in the Mediterranean, Caribbean, Solomon, Sulu, China, and Philippine seas. He has visited in Europe, Africa, and Asia, and has been in Bermuda, Bizerte, Palermo, Panama, Bora Bora, Manus Island, Hollandia, New Guinea, Biak, Mios Woendi, Leyte, Samar, Lugon, Manila, Subic, Kossol, Ulithi, and Okinawa. He has truly seen the world.