Wednesday, April 24, 2024
Retired District Court Judge Thomas C. Warren of Chelan died April 23, 2018. He was born in Wenatchee on January 1, 1941, the third of three sons to Charles Clair Warren Jr. and Edith Allen Warren. His brothers Dick Warren of Hoquiam and Dave Warren of Edmonds predeceased him.
Judge Warren graduated from Wenatchee High School in 1959 and from the University of Washington with a degree in Business Administration, where he served as Vice President of the UW Student Body. He graduated from the University of Washington Law School in 1965, where he was on the Law Review and graduated as a member of the Order of the Coif, the law school equivalent of Phi Beta Kappa.
In 1963, he married the love of his life, Mary Ann Beucler, also from Wenatchee. Following law school he served 4 years with the U.S. Army Judge Advocate General’s Corps with the rank of Captain. He served a year in Viet Nam and was decorated with the bronze star, bronze star with oak leaf cluster, army commendation medal, and army commendation medal with oak leaf cluster.
Upon completing his military service the family moved back to Wenatchee where Tom went into private law practice. In 1986 he was appointed as a judge of the Chelan County District Court and served for 21 years on the bench, followed by over 10 years as a frequent pro tem judge in counties around Central Washington. Judge Warren was very active and respected nationwide for his contributions to the judiciary. He served as chairperson of the American Bar Association National Conference of Specialized Court Judges, and in 1994 he was selected state Judge of the Year by the Misdemeanant Corrections Association. He performed over 2,700 marriage ceremonies, both in English and Spanish.
Judge Warren has been a committed volunteer and leader throughout his life. A very partial list includes: President of the Wenatchee Valley Chamber of Commerce; Chair of the Trustees of Wenatchee Valley College; President of United Way of Washington; Director General of the Washington State Apple Blossom Festival; President of Wenatchee Valley College Foundation; and Chair of the Administrative Council of the Wenatchee First United Methodist Church. In 2002 Judge Warren was honored for his contributions to his profession and community by being named the Distinguished Alumnus of Wenatchee High School.
When Tom retired and moved full-time to Chelan, the family worried that he would drive Mary Ann crazy since Mariners and Seahawks seasons don’t last forever and he thrived on chatting with everyone he met at the courthouse and around town. We shouldn’t have been concerned - he plunged into life in Chelan with the same enthusiasm and community focus that he had all his life. He continued his commitment to public service, serving as Chair of the Lake Chelan Community Hospital Foundation, President of the Lake Chelan Rotary, and as an elected Commissioner of the Lake Chelan Community Hospital & Clinics. He was also an active member of the Lake Chelan United Methodist Church.
Retirement also enabled him to double-down on his love of travel. Tom and Mary Ann visited more than 70 countries, exploring cultures and making new friends throughout the world. And if you know Tom, you know that the research and planning, article writing, and encouragement and planning advice to friends and family were almost as much fun as the trips themselves.
But the most important thing about Tom was what an amazing husband and father he was. He and Mary Ann met as teenagers and were married for 54 wonderful years. Growing up, his daughters Katy Warren and Amanda (Warren) Froh were blessed with a committed father who delighted in time spent at home and at Lake Chelan with his family. His love expanded to include Deya Jorda Nolan, his “Venezuelan daughter” who came as a high school exchange student and ended up staying and becoming an honorary Warren. His granddaughter Eliza Froh also got to know and love Grandpop’s devotion to family and weird jokes. He’s also survived by his two sons-in-law, Geoff Froh and Gary Nolan, who spent many hours with him over the past 20+ years
watching sports and fixing his computer.
A celebration of Judge Warren’s life will be held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, May 12 at the Chelan High School Performing Arts Theater. Officiating will be Dr. Sanford Brown, a longtime friend. Judge Warren has requested that in lieu of flowers, contributions in his memory be given to the NCW Community Foundation, Lake Chelan Rotary Community and International Fund, Lake Chelan United Methodist Church, or the local charity of your choice.
Please leave any thoughts and memories for the family at www.prechtrose.com. Services are entrusted to Precht Rose Chapel of Chelan.
