Bennett Warren

Gordon Bennett Warren, Jr., longtime East Asheville community resident, died Saturday, November 27, 2004, at Givens Health Care, Asheville. He is survived by Sally Jo, his wife of 65 years. He was born February 22, 1919, in Portsmouth, VA, the son of the late Gordon Bennett Warren, Sr. and Bertha Armstrong Warren. He lived in Asheville from infancy, growing up in Chunn’s Cove. He graduated from Haw Creek High School in 1936. He married Sally Jo Anderson on August 20, 1939, and in addition to Sally Jo he is survived by their two sons, James Bennett Warren and his wife Joyce of Arden, and Gary Byron Warren and his wife Diana of Candler; grandchildren Michelle Gilbert and her husband Eric, Kristy Warren, Drew Warren and Lindsey Warren; great-grandchildren Kayla Gilbert and Tyler Gilbert and one sister Julia W. Conlan. Bennett Warren was employed by the Coca-Cola Bottling Co. of Asheville for 38 years, first as a salesman and later as production superintendent. He served as president of the Coca-Cola Co. Credit Union for several years. He was a veteran of World War II. He served in the US Army Air Corps 507th Fighter Group, stationed in the Pacific on the islands of Ie Shema and Okinawa. He attended reunions of this group up through 1998. He grew up in St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in Chunn’s Cove. He joined Bethel United Methodist Church in 1948 and transferred to Bethesda United Methodist Church in 1958 and to Groce United Methodist Church in 2003. He taught Sunday school classes, served as head usher, was on the Church Council of Ministries, Administrative Board and Administrative Council, was a Trustee and served on the Education, Church History and Pastor-Parish Relations Committees. He was active in the Boy Scouts of America for more than 60 years, earning the highest honors in Scouting. He joined Troop 4 at Central United Methodist Church in 1931 at the age of 12, walking to Scout meetings at the church from his home in Chunn’s Cove. He founded Troop 30 at Bethel United Methodist Church in 1949 and served as Scoutmaster until 1956. He helped organize Troop 46 at Bethesda United Methodist Church in 1960, where he served as advancement chairman. He was Assistant Scoutmaster of Troop 4 from 1954 onward. He attended six national Boy Scout Jamborees as Scoutmaster or Assistant Scoutmaster of Daniel Boone Council Troops. He served on the Daniel Boone Council executive committee and advisory committee. He received the Eagle Scout rank, Order of the Arrow, Scoutmaster’s Key and Arrowhead Honor Award. In 1962 he was presented the Silver Beaver, the highest award in Scouting a volunteer may receive. Active at all levels of community life, he coached Youth League baseball for six years, was a Red Cross volunteer and a longtime blood donor, a member of the Haw Creek Community Association and served on the Haw Creek School Committee. The funeral service will be at 2:00 p.m. Monday at Groce United Methodist Church with the Revs. Carl S. Johnson, Charles Sisk, and Joe Fulk officiating. Burial will be at Bethel United Methodist Church. His family will receive friends at the church one hour prior to the service and request that in lieu of flowers memorials be made to Troop 4, Boy Scouts of America, Central United Methodist Church, 27 Church Street, Asheville, NC 28801.