Warren was born June 26, 1934 in Chicago, Illinois, the only son of George V. and Bertha Belle Burns who was a police officer and a restaurateur.
Warren, and his mother, moved to California when he was 8, he graduated from Bell Gardens High School in 1952 and earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree from the University of California at Santa Barbara He did post graduate work at the University of California at Los Angeles, University of Southern California, and the University of California Extension in Sacramento.
Warren proudly served his country for three years in the Army during the Korean War as a Military Police Officer.
His professional employment included ten years with the Los Angeles County Assessor’s Department where he completed his service as a Senior Appraiser, and as the lead Commercial and Industrial Appraiser responsible for appraisals in Beverly Hills, the Wilshire District, the Hollywood Strip, Century City, Twentieth Century Fox Studios, and all of the motion picture theaters and luxury high rise residential properties in Los Angeles County.
In 1970 he became the Chief Appraiser of the Placer County Assessor’s Department (26 years), responsible for the appraisal of all of the taxable property in Placer County. He was also responsible for the implementation of Prop.13 in Placer County.
In 1989 he was a candidate for Placer County Assessor, placing second in a three-person race. He retired in 1996.
Warren had many physical/medical challenges, all of which he accepted with a grace that leaves his family and friends in awe. He will be remembered as a very gregarious man with a wide variety of interests and accomplishments, as a man dedicated to helping others and most of all because of his character as a man-always loving, always accepting and always forgiving. A giant not only in statue but in heart as well.
Among his many professional and community service accomplishments are:
Real Estate Certificate Institute (RECI) Professional Designation
Certified Review Appraiser (CRA) Professional Designation
Advanced Appraiser - California State Board of Equalization
Lifetime college level teaching certificate from the State of California in the fields of Real Estate and Public Administration - Taught Real Estate Sierra College in Rocklin
Served as a member of the Sierra College Real Estate Technical Advisory Committee
Awarded Rotarian of the Year (’96 & ’97) and is a Paul Harris Fellow
Rotary “Thousand Smiles” project in Ensenada, Mexico
Chairman of the Board of Directors of PRIDE Industries receiving one of the three only- ever awarded and coveted “Jimmy Award” in 1999.
Society of the Preservation of Barber Shop Quartet Singing in America (SPBSQSA)
President of the Auburn Community Concert Association (ACCA)
Board member of the Auburn Placer Performing Arts Council (APPAC)
Auburn Elks and Tahoe Club member
Member of a local Quick Draw club (shooting a 451) where he holds the registered name of Bad Eye Burns (having lost an eye to cancer)
Member of the first Placer County Sheriff’s Department STAR team, serving over 1000 hours before illness forced his leave.
He was also a proud member of AA for many years.
In 2001, after his left side was paralyzed due to a brain tumor, he challenged the Auburn Rotary Club members to a 1K walk/run/crawl to raise money to purchase thermal imaging equipment for the Auburn Fire Departments. He walked very slowly and painfully and took some “short cuts” but in the end, raised over $1,000 for his efforts.
Warren believed strongly in the Rotary’s missions and tried to live by the Rotary Four Way Test.
Warren’s personal accomplishments and milestones include the following:
Warren married Lea Wilcox in 1959 with whom he had three daughters: Lisa (Bob) Owens, Linda (Bryan) Johnson, Julie Chenault, Florida. In total they produced eight grandchildren: Samuel, Solomon, Christina Owens, Jessica Elms, Lindsey Johnson, Deshawn (Christina); Serena, Isaiah Chenault and two great-grandchildren: Devonney Elms, Deshawn Chenault Jr.
In 1983 he married whom he described as his soul mate, Connie, and his family became richer by the inclusion of her four sons: Mark, Michael (Kelly), Steven (Jeanne) and Scott (Lisa) Paris, all of whom ultimately produced eight step grandchildren: Emily, Matthew, Molly, Gregory, Jenifer, Tara, Collin Paris, Chelsea Peterson and two step great-grandchildren: Laurel Winslow, Logan Paris.
Connie and Warren’s lives were busy with family, Country Western dancing, and travels that included China, Argentina, Brazil, Bolivia, Aruba, Alaska, Iguassu Falls, Costa Rico, Puerto Rico, Panama Canal, Copper Canyon and many trips to Mexico. Connie and Warren were members of Elderhostel with over 30 trips with some including grandchildren. Warren also loved singing Barbershop and Karaoke and playing pool with his buddies at the Elks Lodge.
Services for Warren will be held at the First Congregational Church in Auburn, on Monday, April 21, 2014 at 10:30, viewing prior, with burial at Newcastle Cemetery. Following the burial, the family invites you to celebrate Warren’s life with a luncheon and fellowship at the Auburn Elks Lodge.
In lieu of flowers remembrances may be made to the Auburn Community Cancer Endowment Fund (ACCEF), 11899 Edgewood Rd, Suite X, Auburn, CA 95603.
SHARE OBITUARY
v.1.9.5