Jim David Warehime

Jim David Warehime

Once a Marine, always a Marine describes retired Master Gunnery Sergeant Jim David Warehime, who passed away at Journey Home on Saturday, November 1, 2025.

Jim met his future wife, Ginger Halter, in October 1965 while they were in high school and they married on Aug. 21, 1967, in Santa Barbara, CA.

Jim was born February 5, 1948, in Nowata, OK, to Robert David and Una Bell (Bird) Warehime. He grew up in Bartlesville and attended Lincoln Elementary, continuing at College High through the 11th grade. He then moved to Dewey High School, graduating on May 13, 1966. He wanted to become a Marine, so on May 17, 1966, he enlisted and immediately went to Boot Camp in San Diego, CA. During his 24-year career with the Marines he earned the military occupational specialties of Motor Transport Mechanic, Rifleman, Imagery Interpretation Specialist, Intelligence Specialist, and Intelligence Chief.

In September 1967, Jim was sent to Vietnam and ended up with the Kilo Company 3rd Battalion, 26th Marines, in Khe Sanh during the Tet Offensive, with him being injured and receiving a Purple Heart. Jim returned to his young wife being stationed at Camp Pendleton. He decided that he wanted a career as a Marine. For the next five years he was stationed at Cherry Point, N.C., eventually being transferred to Marine Corps Air Station El Toro in California for three years. He ended up assigned to Fleet Intelligence Center Pacific (FICPAC) in Honolulu, HI, where he became a father on March 9, 1981, to his precious Amanda. He was then transferred to Schierstein, Germany, for the next three years. It was there his son Justin was born on March 2, 1984. He was transferred to Cherry Point, NC, in June 1986, and then Iwakuni, Japan, for a year, then to Camp Lejeune, NC, where he retired on July 30, 1990.

In addition to the Purple Heart, Master Gunnery Sergeant Warehime's decorations and awards include the Meritorious Service Medal, Navy Achievement Medal, Combat Action Ribbon with Star, Presidential Unit Citation with star, Air Force Outstanding Unit Award, Good Conduct Medal with one silver and two bronze stars, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal with four stars, Sea Service Deployment Ribbon with two stars, Navy and Marine Corps Overseas Service Ribbon with two stars, Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation with palm, Republic of Vietnam Civil Actions Unit Citation with palm, and the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal.

His family moved back to Dewey and Jim was employed by Fouts Security until he went to work as a Detention Officer for Washington County. After five years, he went to Coffeyville Community College and graduated with an associate's degree in accounting, leading to him going to work for Phillips in 1998, where he stayed until his job was transferred to Tempe, AZ.

Jim's children attended school in Dewey, where he supported the band, sports, VFW, Girl Scouts, and church. Jim was a devout Christian. He was a huge football and baseball fan and enjoyed watching the Dallas Cowboys and OU Sooners. Boomer!

In 2002 his health started deteriorating due to his exposure to Agent Orange in Vietnam. Jim is a lifetime member of the Marine League out of Pawhuska, OK, and the VFW in Dewey. In 2015 he began going to Marine reunions for the Kilo Company 3rd Battalion, 26th Marines from California to Florida, Virginia, Washington D.C., Myrtle Beach. During COVID, Jim was sent to Muskogee at Jack C. Montgomery VA Medical Center and he was the first veteran to be given plasma and he was healed. In 2020, Jim began his residence at the VA Home in Claremore.

Jim is survived by his loving wife of 58 years Ginger (Halter) Warehime; two children, Amanda Kelly and husband Tim, and Justin Warehime and wife Meredith; three grandchildren, Brenden Kelly, Lauren Kelly, and Barrett Warehime; nephews, Gil Dildine and wife Charla, Lance Dildine and wife Wendy; brother-in-law, Richard Halter and wife Valerie; sisters-in-law, Sherry Halter-Herman, and Maxine Halter; his beloved black lab Cash; and numerous other extended family members and friends. Jim was preceded in death by his parents; a sister, Virginia Grace Dildine; brother-in-law, Michael Halter Sr.; mother- and father-in-law, Bill and Erma Halter; aunt and uncle, Harvey and Grace Bullick; cousin, Master Sergeant Harvey Olin Shaw; and niece, Shannon England.

Jim's family will receive friends from 3-5 p.m. Sunday, November 9, 2025, at Davis Family Funeral Home – Dewey Chapel, 113 S. Osage Ave., Dewey, OK 74029, 918-534-3030.

Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Monday, November 10, 2025, at Pathway Christian Church in Bartlesville 3221 E. Tuxedo, Blvd. Bartlesville, OK 74006, with Pastors David Bycroft and Chris Humby officiating. Burial will follow at Dewey Cemetery, where Marine Military Rites will be rendered. Pallbearers will be Brenden Kelly, Tim Kelly, Jason Halter, Mike Halter Jr., Mark Fox, Clay Fielder, and Sean Bouvier. Honorary Pallbearers will be Lauren Kelly and Barrett Warehime. Arrangements are under the direction of Carter Davis and Davis Family Funeral Home – Dewey Chapel. Online condolences and remembrances may be shared at www.DavisFamilyFuneralHome.com.