Warren Stewert

Warren Earl Stewart born February 16, 1913 in Cambridge, Massachusetts went home to be with his Lord on Friday, April 29, 2011.   He accepted Christ as his Lord and Savior at the age of 14 and later felt the Lord calling him into full time ministry.  Even as a teenager, he spoke at several events for missions and churches.  After seven years of schooling at Gordon College & Seminary he received a Bachelor of Divinity degree in June of 1945; however, his first church was the Freewill Baptist Church in Berwick, ME prior to getting his degree; his salary was $10.00 a month. It was a good thing he married a money manager During his time there, he worked at several other jobs;  delivering oil, blocks of ice, mail, working at the Nabisco factory,  to a name a few.  Later he served in other churches in both Massachusetts and Maine.  Including his military service as a Chaplain, he preached for 70+ years.  He loved to share his stories with whoever would listen.  When he first decided to attend Gordon College, he knew he had to get a job before enrolling as he had no means to pay for his schooling.  He said that the Lord told him that He doesn’t do things that way & that he should enroll & the job would come.  He enrolled and by the time he got home, there was a job offer for him.  One of his summer job offers was in the kitchen at a hotel at Wells Beach in Maine.  He decided that he did not like the kitchen – to smelly - and was about to leave when a group of waitresses returned from the beach – he promptly changed his mind!  It was there that he met Rose whom he later married.  He joined the US Army as a Chaplain and served his country for twenty eight years.  His services took him to France, Korea, Okinawa the European theater, as well as several state-side assignments.  While in Korea he became involved with the Holt Adoption agency and helped place many orphans into good homes.  This continued with his time in Okinawa as well.  He was the recipient of the European Theater of Operations Ribbon, two bronze stars, Asiatic Pacific Theater Ribbon, World War II Victory Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Philippine Liberation Medal, among others.  He also served as the Hospital Chaplain at the Brooke General Hospital where he ministered to the patients on the burn ward.  He retired from the military in June, 1972 at Ft. Bliss, TX and moved to Sunsites, AZ where he was the pastor for the Sunsites Community Church for ten years and was named as Pastor Emeritus upon his retirement.  As the saying goes, ministers never retire and his last sermon was delivered when he was in his mid-eighties…..even though his eyesight was poor at that time, he had no problem “reading” the Scriptures as his memory was excellent and he had committed many verses to memory.  This proved to be essential because one time the Bible was upside down & he “read” the entire passage!   He had a wonderful tenor voice & he loved to sing – there were times when he would sing a song during a sermon.  He sang in the Sunsites Community Chorus group for several years.  His sense of humor always kept us on our toes.  He loved to play golf and often thought of the golf course as his other place of ministry.  As a youngster, he caddied for semi-pro golfers where his love for the game grew.   He served on the Men’s Golf Association at the Sunsites golf course for several years and won several trophies.  He had a large golf ball collection and once received a gift of a golf ball with the words “I Once Was Lost But Now Am Found” which he placed on the golf course for someone to find!  He also had a collection of antique model cars.  After 36 years in Arizona, the decision was made to move to Lamar, MO.  So at the age of 96, the house was packed up & another chapter in his life began. One of Warren’s favorite Scripture passages to preach from was Psalm 23.  He stated that this whole passage involves a personal relationship with God…the Lord is MY shepherd, He leads ME, He restores MY soul…………he occasionally would end these sermons with “The Lord is My Shepherd, is He yours?”       Warren leaves behind his bride of 72 years, Rose, his daughter Amy and husband James Cowan of Corpus Christi, TX, his son Ronald and wife Beverly of Ozark, AL, his daughter Brenda of Lamar, MO, his son Kevin and wife Shelly of Lamar, MO, his daughter Susan and husband David Dodson of Richmond Hills, GA, his daughter Janet & husband Luis Velasquez of Clarksville, TN, sister Carol and husband David of Plymouth MA, 16 grandchildren, 16 great-grandchildren, and 7 great-great grandchildren.  He is preceded in death by his Mother, Gertrude Stewart, his Father, John Stewart, his brother Carl Stewart, and his daughter Loralie Ann Stewart.   Funeral Services for Warren will be 1:30 Wednesday, May 4, 2011 at First Baptist Church of Lamar.   The family will receive friends from 1:00 until service time, at the church.   Contribution suggested to Community Church Sunsites in care of Daniel Funeral Home.