Arthur E. Warner

COLUMBIA - Arthur Eugene “Art” Warner, 91, of Columbia, SC, died on June 7, 2013. Born on May 30, 1922, in Altona, Indiana, to Vern and Ethel (Button) Warner, he remained a proud Hoosier to whom Indiana was home no matter where he lived.

Dr. Warner is survived by his high school sweetheart and wife of almost 72 years, Ann Bradin Warner, with whom he walked the pathways of life, and by three children who loved and leaned on him: Arthur E. Warner II of Defiance, OH; Patricia J. Warner (T. Dary Erwin) of Harrisonburg, VA; and Melissa J. Warner of Glen Allen, VA. His firstborn daughter, Linda A. Pataky, died before him. He had ten “adorable, precocious” grandchildren: Scott Holzwart (Cindy) of Elkton, MI; Zachary Erwin of Manassas, VA; Whitney Erwin of Harrisonburg, VA; Nathaniel (Mary) Erwin of Los Angeles, CA; Matthew McClenahan of Richmond, VA; Elizabeth Scoggins of Richmond, VA; Amanda Warner of Portage, MI; Brandon Warner of Defiance, OH; Todd Mickelson of Novi, MI; and Sherri (Doug) Kirkland of Ocala, FL. His firstborn granddaughter, Stephanie Holzwart Collins, predeceased him. Dr. Warner rejoiced in his eight great grandchildren: David Holzwart of Stanley, ND; Nicholas, Katherine and Kimberly Holzwart, all of Elkton, MI; Bo Mickelson of MI, and Madison, Jackson and Emerson Kirkland, all of Ocala, FL. A brother, Richard L. Warner (Geri) still resides in Auburn, IN. His only beloved sister, Ila Warner Greaf, of Garrett, IN, preceded him in death in 2012.

His service in the Army in World War II allowed Art to pursue his dream of a college education and pursue it he did. With a wife and two children in tow, he enrolled at Indiana University in Bloomington, IN, in August of 1946 and seven years later left with a B.S., Masters and Doctorate in Business. While there he did landmark research in condominiums and was a founding member of the Homer Hoyt Institute of Post Doctoral Studies in Land Economics. In 1948 Indiana honored him as the outstanding World War II veteran student, and he was in three honor societies. Both learning and teaching were lifelong passions. While a Professor of Finance and Real Estate at Michigan State University, he packed up his family and went to São Paulo, Brazil for two years to assist with developing the business school of the Getulio Vargas Foundation, which awarded him the Medallion of Merit in 1974. He spent nine years as Dean of Business Administration at the University of Tennessee, one year as such at American University in Washington, DC, and he retired from the University of South Carolina as Chair Professor of Real Estate and Finance. He authored 23 books and monographs and too many journal articles to count.

In his leisure time Dr. Warner enjoyed reading, traveling, golf, a good single malt Scotch and being with his family, “not necessarily in that order.” The grandchildren and great-grandchildren to whom he was “Popo” were blessed by his patient, wise, kind and loving presence. As babes on his shoulder they were soothed to sleep; as wee ones on his knee they helped solve the New York Times crossword puzzle; as children by his side they learned to swim and play golf (and strive to reach his record of seven holes-in-one); and as adults they called him with any questions on their minds and hearts. He will forever be missed and never be forgotten by all who knew and loved him.

Dr. Warner was a lifelong Presbyterian and an elder at Forest Lake Presbyterian Church, Columbia, SC. A service of Witness to the Resurrection will be held in his home church in Garrett, IN, on August 17. Memorial gifts may be made to Garrett Presbyterian Church, the scholarship fund of Garrett High School, or Heartstrings Hospice of Columbia, SC, or the hospice of the giver’s choice.