Warren Fillmore Southwell

Our precious Husband, Daddy, Grandpa, and Pop was born on the 27th day of September, in the year 1934. The metropolis of Custer City, Oklahoma had no idea what would become of this baby. The youngest of 8 children, this twin brother to Wayne was born to Lloyd and Viola Hayes Southwell in their 2-story, yellow farmhouse on the banks of Little Deer Creek. (Side note: There are many stories that could be told about the Adventures of Warren and Wayne on Little Deer Creek, but this is not the time or the place for that.) Warren lived a very full life, loving and well-loved. On the 28th day of September, in this very year, he took his final breath in this world, and went on to see his Savior face-to-face.
As was the expected practice for young men in the day, Warren graduated from Capitol Hill High School in Oklahoma City in 1952. Oh, yes, he was wise and had that 'je ne sais quoi', but he really did attend school (at least most days, enough to graduate).
We know he wasn't just studying at school, because soon after graduating, he claimed Dorothy Jean Shaver as his child bride. (.... ok, well, maybe not a child, but she was pretty young herself.) They married on the 5th day of June, in the year 1953. This must have been true love; they were happily married for 68 years.
At the invitation, (maybe 'special request') of the Army, Warren served his country from March, 1957 to March, 1960. (Side note: There are many stories that could be told about the Adventures of Warren, the Company Clerk, but this is not the time or the place for that either.) This short stint was proof enough for Warren to know that Army life was not for him. Possibly, the Army realized he would fare better as a fireman. So they allowed him to pack his duffel, gave him an Honorable Discharge, and sent him marching home. He seemed to agree that firefighting was his true calling. He joined the Oklahoma City Fire Department in 1960. He served the citizens of Oklahoma City as a 'firefighter man' for 21 years. (Side note: There are many, many, many stories that could be told about the Adventures of Warren the Firefighter Man and his Co-Conspirators, but again, not the time OR the place, due to 'questionable appropriateness'.) In 1982, he hung up the gear, and Captain Southwell retired.
Oh, you may think that is the end of Warren's adventures, but hold on to your fire hat! Hold on to your hammer! Hold on to your postage stamps! How about these highlights:
- Warren earned an Associates Degree in Fire Protection Technology at OSU-OKC.
- He could use woodworking tools in expert style. Warren was a meticulous craftsman and master builder, creating thousands of treasures, from plaques, to podiums, to porches, to houses, to churches, and many items in between.
- He and Dorothy traveled to more than 13 states and multiple foreign countries to visit family and friends.
- Warren carried the mail on a Rural Mail Route, delivering thousands of packages to fund his childrens' college dreams, or just to keep his mind busy.
- He used his green thumb to garden, his workshop to create, and his tractor to well we think just 'play farmer'.
Warren was a man of strong belief, humor, and generosity. Without missing a beat, he held down a job, rebuilt an old farmhouse for his family, and built a church, all with several simultaneous swings of a hammer. You may ask, 'why?', 'why did he fill his life with all of this?'.... because of love. Warren loved: loved his work, loved his family, and loved his Lord.
Visitation will be on Thursday from 9:00am to 8:00pm with family present from 6-8:00 pm. Funeral service will be Friday, October 1, 2:00pm in the Mercer-Adams Chapel.
The service will be webcast and will be available to watch live on this obituary page.