Donald Robert Warriner

Donald (Don) Robert Warriner was born on Dec 28, 1953, to Robert (Bob) and Louise Warriner. Don has two siblings Glen of Astoria Oregon and Annette Sipes of Big Bear Lake. In the early years he grew up in Newhall, where his parents both taught school. When Don was 10 years old his Parents wanted to relocate to a more peaceful location, his parents moved the family out of the city, to Big Bear Lake in 1965.
Don thoroughly enjoyed the new "mountain living" lifestyle and quickly picked up fishing with his older brother and close friend John Bell. He also learned how to sail a 14ft Aqua Cat. After proving to his father that he could upright a capsized sailboat all by himself, he was allowed to experience the freedom and rush of sailing on his own. He really enjoyed the hum of the hulls on the water. At a young age Don learned about the promise of Salvation through Jesus Christ and accepted the Lord into his heart. He developed a love for music and picked up the Clarinet in elementary school where he learned from his Father. His dad was a very talented musician in the Army and through his musical talents he eventually became a band Director. Don played Clarinet throughout all his schooling and played in the Big Bear High School band under Mr. Holmes. As a high school student, Don also fell in love with Photography, he even joined the school yearbook team as a photographer. He took many pictures of the beauty in mountains and nature throughout his whole life. Don loved the outdoors and he learned how to ski, he eventually joined, and raced for the Snow Summit Race team.
Don's faith led him to serve in the Big Bear Community church in any capacity that he could. His love for music and love for Jesus inspired him to play guitar on the worship team. He also learned how to run a soundboard and eventually began running the sound system at the church for almost every event and function during his tenure. He even ran the sound for Calvery Chapel after moving churches many years later. Don loved teaching as well, and he worked in the children's ministry of Awana, and in college he served in the College Christian Brigade. Don also worked closely in the Community Church Puppet Ministry for approximately 8 years. He helped build sets, lighting, Sound, and even edited together tapes to give out as part of the ministry.
After graduating Highschool, he attended Christian Heritage College in El Cajon, where he studied missions. He continued to take photos and he even worked on the college yearbook. He began Dating Irene in 1972. He traveled hundreds of miles each week during his college years just to come back to Big Bear to be with her. After 4 years of dating, he proposed in October of 1976, and in May of 1977 he married the love of his life at the Big Bear Community Church. In 1987 Pastor Gunther helped facilitate the meeting and adoption of our Son Nolan Ryan through the Christian adoption agency. God is good! Don and I raised Nolan to be the best he could be. Nolan even followed in his Dad's footsteps and picked up the Clarinet at 7 years of age playing his Dad's Clarinet through most of his schooling years.
During his working years, Don worked in Christian camping. First at the Presbyterian Conference Grounds and then Pine Summit Christian Conference Center. He later worked for the Bear Valley Unified School district where he gave over 20 years of his life as a Maintenance worker, Bus Driver, and Groundskeeper. Don was also an accomplished wood worker. He and Nolan would spend countless hours in the garage, making Bird houses and various other projects. Rather than buying the expensive "designer" lawn art, Don would make and fabricate decorations for our house and yard, creating a custom look, rather than just buying the mainstream products. He loved to volunteer his time to instruct the elementary school students in the basics, and the art of woodworking. He was always the "go-to" fix-it man for everything. After retiring, he enjoyed working around our home, occasionally fishing with Nolan, gardening, maintaining the grass, and keeping busy. In the winter Months he enjoyed getting away from the snow where him and Irene would escape to his parents' old Mobile home at Desert Edge in Desert Hot Springs. Don always found fulfillment through everything he did.
Don had struggled with countless health issues his whole life, from Asthma, to back issues, heart issues, weight issues, lung issues etc. But he never complained, he just put one foot in front of the other and lived the best life he could! Passing along his good nature, and love for the Lord. However, in October of 2023, Don was diagnosed with Stage IV Glioblastoma (Brain Cancer), he fought hard throughout the months and in the early morning on May 7th 2024, he was peacefully called home to join our Lord and Savior in Heaven. He was surrounded by his Wife of 47 years and his Son Nolan. During his last moments he was able to enjoy the sound of music from his own Clarinet as Nolan played some of his favorite hymns and songs.
Don will be remembered as one of the most caring and loving Husbands that could have ever walked this earth. He was one of the best Fathers I could have ever hoped to raise our Son with. He was such an example to Nolan, and we are pleased to see the Man that Nolan has become. Don would always sacrifice himself to help others, or even just be with them and hear them out. He gave unconditionally, and never complained. He was so proud of Nolan and his accomplishments. I know he is smiling down at us patiently waiting for the day that we will all be reunited in Heaven through God's promise to those that accept him as their Lord and Savior.
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