Warren Kenneth Stratton

Warren Kenneth Stratton, 78, of Bedford, NH, pioneering aerospace leader who retired to become a pastors to New England's pastors, died June 15, 2012 after a brief illness.

Warren was born in Boise, Idaho on December 5, 1933, and married the love of his life, Joan Baker in Richland, WA in 1953. They raised four children in Media, PA and have twelve grandchildren.

Warren earned his degree from the University of Washington School of Engineering, where he later taught as an adjunct faculty member. He also briefly served in the U.S. Army. After working on Boeing's original pre-Sputnik space shuttle program (code-named "Dinosaur") in Seattle, Warren moved to Boeing's Philadelphia division. He became one of the world's leading experts on field safe fiberglass helicopter rotor blade design, and project manager for the iconic twin-rotor Sea Knight Navy and Coast Guard rescue helicopters. He moved to California in 1982, where he helped spear-head the creation of the Army's famous Apache attack helicopters for Hughes Aircraft, and later became vice president of Northrop-Grumman's Newbury Park division responsible for much of the Air Force's cutting-edge stealth technology.

Warren and Joan retired to Bedford, NH in 1995, where they became beloved pillars of the Bethany Covenant Church, serving the congregation in numerous capacities. In "retirement" Warren volunteered as a trustee and consultant to numerous non-profit ministries and churches. Dr. Stephen A. Macchia, past president of Vision New England and founder of Leadership Transformations at Gordon-Conwell seminary described Warren as, "a minister to New England's ministers."

Warren will be remembered as a warm and loving husband, father, grandfather, leader, and friend who could always be relied upon for his compassionate listening, straight-shooting advice, and off-beat sense of humor.

He loved golf, bridge, poetry, suspense novels, and hard-hitting non-fiction. Other than his God, his wife, and his family and friends, Warren's greatest love was spending time at his cabin on the shores of Lake Winnipesaukee, where he could be found with a fishing pole in hand, a broad grin on his face, and a gentle admonition to always "be safe." He was dearly loved and will be greatly missed by all who knew him.

Family members include his wife of 59 years, Joan (Baker) Stratton of Bedford; two sons, Gary Stratton and his wife Sue of Hollywood, CA, Scott Stratton and wife Kerstin of Bedford, NH; two daughters, Laurie Stratton Bruns and husband John of Lafayette, CA; Diane Stratton Dunkle and husband Steve of Bedford, NH; as well as his beloved grandchildren—Dan and Leslie Stratton; Ashley, Jordan, Joshua, Micaiah Stratton; Christopher and Patrick Dunkle; Alex Jones, Melissa, Jessica, and Tylor Bruns; nephews, nieces, and cousins.

The funeral service was held on Tuesday, June 19, 2012 in Bethany Covenant Church, 1 Covenant Way, Bedford, NH. Burial followed in Bedford Center Cemetery.

Memorial donations may be made in his memory to the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation, 811 West Evergreen Ave, Suite 204, Chicago, IL 60642 or go to www.pulmonaryfibrosis.org/donate.