Charles W.H. Warner

WARNER, Charles W.H., of Warsaw, formerly of Tappahannock, passed away Sunday, August 16, 2009, following a long illness. He was the son of the late Dr. Charles Andrew Warner and Gladys Roy Hoskins Warner. Charles Warner was a graduate of the College of William and Mary and George Washington University. In early adult years, he was a school teacher in the Northern Neck and later a historian with The National Park Service in Jamestown and Yorktown, then promoted to supervisory historian of Roosevelt-Vanderbilt National Historic Sites in New York State, and next promoted to superintendent of Sitka National Monument in Alaska. Due to his parent's illness, he returned to Virginia to manage family businesses. Charles Warner was the leader in having 14 historic buildings in Tappahannock placed on the Virginia and on the National Register of Historic Places as The Tappahannock Historic District in 1972 and 1973. These buildings cover a period of 300 years in interpreting the history of the town. He was the author of Road to Revolutions: Virginia's Rebels From Bacon to Jefferson, 1676-1776 and Hoskins of Virginia and Related Families. These books have been reviewed throughout the United States and in England. In October 1972, The Virginia Magazine of History stated that Road to Revolution, "contains what may be the most balanced view" of the pre-Revolutionary political debate. Of his book, Hoskins of Virginia, a writer for the Richmond Times-Dispatch and Rappahannock Times wrote, "This is one of the books that will grow in value each year and will be inestimable value to future historians." The Genealogical Quarterly of London, England, wrote, "This book has been competently and authentically compiled and provides a major contribution to American genealogy." Charles Warner was also a member of the Jamestowne Society, The Society of the Lees of Virginia, The Baronial Order of Magna Charta, The Friends of Saint George's and Descendants of Knights of the Garter. In later life, Charles Warner lived in the Northern Neck, having inherited Accakeek Farm in Richmond County from his father. In 1981, he married Anne Dudley George Hagerty, of Smithfield in King and Queen County. Charles W.H. Warner is survived by his wife, Anne Hagerty Harp Warner; two stepchildren, Reno Sheffer Harp IV and Anne Harcourt Harp Vaeth; two sisters-in-law, Meriwether H. Rumrill and Susannah H. Farley; two stepgrandchildren, Emily Harcourt Vaeth and Gregory Benjamin Vaeth Jr.; six nephews and two nieces. He was predeceased by a sister, the late Elizabeth W. Trible. A graveside service will be held at St. Paul's Episcopal Church, Millers Tavern, on Sunday, August 23, 2009, at 3 p.m. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to St. Paul's Episcopal Church, P.O. Box 278, Millers Tavern, 23115; The Essex Public Library, 117 N. Church Street, Tappahannock, Va. 22560; or the Essex County Museum and Historical Society, P.O. Box 2939, Tappahannock, Va. 22560. Arrangements by Marks-Bristow Funeral Home, Tappahannock.
This obituary was originally published in the Richmond Times-Dispatch.