Walter Wilson Warden

Walter Wilson Warden of Little Rock, Arkansas and Naples, Florida died peacefully at his home in Little Rock in the early hours of Wednesday, December 4 at the age of 100. Walter was known to all his family as Pops, a name affectionately bestowed by his first grandchild. All of his grandchildren and great-grandchildren delighted in his company, and he in theirs. His smile, good humor and innate kindness made all family occasions warm and loving and endeared him to his many friends. He was a gentleman who always stood when a lady entered the room, opened doors and pulled out chairs. Until the last year of his life, he insisted on walking his caregivers to their cars. He was an Eagle Scout, a 32nd Degree Mason and a Rotarian. He hunted, fished, played gin and bridge and finally gave up golf at age 90 when he no longer had partners. His business colleagues from over several decades remember him for his cordiality and integrity in all his dealings. Mr. Warden was born in Joplin, Missouri on March 22, 1913, the third of eight children of Clarence and Elsie Warden. Following graduation from high school, he worked for a period in the lead mining industry in Southwest Missouri before entering the University of Texas where he studied petroleum engineering. During the Depression and the Second World War, he worked for the Baroid Corporation, now a part of Halliburton, selling drilling equipment to wildcatters and others in Texas and later in Indiana, Oklahoma and Wyoming. While in Indiana, he met Juanita Veatch of Carmi, Illinois, and they married on December 15, 1940, making their first home in New Harmony, Indiana. Thus began over 71 years of happy and devoted marriage, which ended only with Juanita's death in August of 2012. While they were in New Harmony, their first child, John, now of New York City, was born. They also met their life-long fast friends Beverly and Frank Pipe, of St. Louis and Naples, Florida. After the war, they moved to Cairo, Illinois, where Mr. Warden became a partner in the Ford dealership owned by his father-in-law and another man. Shortly after their move to Cairo, their second child, now Nancy Mathews of Little Rock, was born. Walter and Juanita made their home and raised their children in Cairo until 1965, when they moved to Little Rock and he opened a new dealership, Warden Volkswagen, on New Benton Highway. Later he added BMW, Subaru and Isuzu franchises, and the name was changed to Warden Motors. Through their mutual interest in the automobile business, Walter met Ledger Parker, and the Wardens became close friends of Ledger and his wife, Doris, and in due course, their sons Rick and David. The Wardens began visiting Naples, Florida in the early 1970's, drawn there by Frank and Beverly Pipe, and spent increasing amounts of the winter months there over succeeding years, finally moving there in 1993, when Walter wound up his business in Little Rock. Several years ago, they returned to Little Rock to live with their daughter, Nancy, who cared for them in their final years. Last year, Walter moved into Fox Ridge assisted living. By the time of their 70th Wedding Anniversary in 2010, Walter and Juanita had six grandchildren, Anne Clark of Santa Fe, New Mexico; John Warden Jr. of Washington, D.C.; Walter Carson Warden of San Anselmo, California; Eric Mathews of Little Rock; Grant Mathews of Mountain Home, Arkansas; and David Mathews of Chicago, and eight great-grandchildren, all of whom, along with John and his wife, Phillis, and Nancy and her husband, Terry and one newly born great-grandchild, survive Walter. He is also survived by his sister, Mabel Faye Bowman of Heber Springs, Arkansas, his brother, Robert Warden of Joplin, Missouri and dozens of nieces and nephews. Last March, his children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and many friends and colleagues gathered in Little Rock to celebrate his 100th Birthday. A good time was had by all, particularly by Walter, who made a moving talk after dinner and two Scotches, double his usual ration. They will all miss him, but feel privileged to have had him with them for so long. A memorial service will be held Sunday, 4 p.m., December 15th, in the Chapel at Second Presbyterian Church, 600 Pleasant Valley Dr., Little Rock.