Rev. Rees F. Warring

The Rev. Rees F. Warring, 76, of Roaring Brook Twp., died on Sept. 1, 2014, at the Hospice of the Sacred Heart after a full and joyful life.

He was a loving and compassionate husband, father, grandfather, friend and pastor, who will be missed dearly by those who knew him.

Born May 15, 1938, in Scranton and raised in Peckville, Pa., he was the son of Llewellyn Warring and Dorothy Fendick Warring. He was a 1956 graduate of Blakely High School. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1961 from Union College, Barbourville, Ky., and a Master of Divinity degree from Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington, D.C., in 1964.

While attending seminary in Washington, he served as Minister of Education for the Howard Park Methodist Church in Baltimore, Md. He was ordained an Elder of the United Methodist Church in 1964.

As a pastor, he was appointed to the Forest City, Pa. Charge (Union Dale, East Ararat and Forest City Churches) the Waverly, Pa. Charge (Fleetville and Waverly United Methodist Churches) the Elm Park United Methodist Church of Oneonta, N.Y., and in 1983 he was appointed the senior pastor of the Elm Park United Methodist Church of Scranton, Pa., where he served for 21 years until his retirement on July 1, 2004.

After retirement from full-­time ministry, Pastor Warring served as the interim pastor of Clarks Summit United Methodist Church in 2005 and since that time has served as guest and substitute pastor and preacher for churches of the Scranton area. His ministry as an appointed pastor to Methodist and United Methodist churches covered a span of 50 years. He also had the distinct honor of opening a session of the United States Congress in prayer.

Active in each community in which he served, Rees was a three-term president of Scranton's Central City Clergy, a 32-year member and two-term president of the board of trustees of the Scranton Public Library, a board member of the United Methodist Homes at Wesley Village, a member of the TV 61 Committee, a member of the University of Scranton Board of Regents, a committee member for restoration of the Scranton Trolley 505, and in other leadership positions in the Greater Scranton area. He was also a member of Waverly Lodge 301, F&AM, and a 32nd-­degree Mason of the Scranton Valley Keystone Consistory and was a member of Scranton Rotary.

Pastor Warring's retirement years were spent with his dear wife, Jean, enjoying his hobbies of gardening, reading and traveling. He was a member of the Capitol Historical Society, the White House Historical Society, the National Trust for Historic Preservation, Sierra Club, Friends of the Albright Library, Dorflinger Glass Museum, Arbor Day Foundation and a volunteer at the Dorflinger Wild Flower Music Festival. Uppermost in his activities and interests were the enjoyment of his friends, family, children and grandchildren.

In addition to his wife and best friend of 53 years, Jean Townsley Warring, Rees is also survived by his son, Mark David Warring and his wife, DeAnn, Pocatello, Idaho; daughter, Susan Lynn Anderson and her husband, Don, Peckville, Pa.; daughter, Sarah W. Colandro and her husband, Philip, Sarasota, Fla.; son, John J. Warring and his wife, Maria Kerwick Warring, Scranton, Pa.; his grandchildren, Emily Jean Anderson, Stephanie Thomson, Emily Gold (Matt Gold), Rebekah Thomson, Benjamin Rees Warring, Ethan Joseph Warring, Luke Aaron Warring and Lilly Kathryn Warring; and great-grandchildren, Michael Warring Gold, Zachariah Sailer Gold and Kendra Grace Gold.

He was preceded in death by his father, Llewellyn Warring; and mother, Dorothy Fendick Warring.

The family would like to offer its deep appreciation for the overwhelming kindness and support received over the last few weeks from so many family members, friends, colleagues and medical personnel.

Visiting hours begin Saturday, Sept. 6, at 9 a.m. at the Peckville United Methodist Church, 723 Main St., Peckville. A Masonic service and funeral will begin at 10:45 a.m. Interment will be at the Prospect Hill Cemetery, Peckville.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Warring/Fendick Scholarship, c/o Peckville United Methodist Church, or the Albright Memorial Library Fund.