Obituary of Charles Warren

Charles Elfving Warren, 73, of Eugene died of cancer at home in his wife’s arms, in the early morning of July 5 as fireworks echoed over Spencer Butte. He was born in Astoria, Oregon, on Dec. 23, 1939 to Frances Helen Watzek and Edward Elfving. Ed died during WWII, and Fran later wed widower John Warren. The family moved to Eugene in 1948 where John coached basketball at the U of O. Charles attended Edison Elementary, Roosevelt Junior High, and was an outstanding three sport athlete at South Eugene High School.In his junior year at the University of Oregon Charles was selected to the 1962 NCAA All-American Basketball Team. After graduating with a degree in business, he served as a 1st Lieutenant in the 4th Armored Division of the U.S. Army in Germany. Following his tour of duty he worked for John Warren Hardware in Eugene selling team sports equipment. After a few years he joined with Idaho inventor, Lloyd Ponsness, to manufacture Ponsness-Warren Shotshell Reloaders. These machines were considered the world’s finest reloading tools for trap and skeet shooters. Next Charles purchased Huey and Sons Cutlery and built it into the familiar Excalibur Cutlery and Gift stores which served the Northwest for 28 years.In 1975 Charles married Karen McNamee, the love of his life. They lived on a large spread in Eugene’s south hills, where growing grass and rhododendrons became a hobby -- some say an obsession. Charles actually enjoyed mowing his lawn, as well as hunting, fishing and exploring the Oregon coast with his growing family. He couldn’t resist a practical joke, but his willingness to organize and to get important things done was a constant. Charles was a man of integrity and determination. He was a great friend.From the time he was a young man, Charles was active in serving his community. He coached teams in the Eugene Boys Athletic Association, which later became Kidsports, and Charles was its president in 1969. He coached his daughter Jennifer’s softball and basketball Kidsports teams in elementary and middle school. The players he coached learned fundamental athletic skills, sportsmanship, teamwork and self-respect. Many say that “Mr. Warren was the best coach I ever had.”In 1998 Charles led the charge for passing the Parks and Open Space bond measure which helped ensure the availability of all-weather playing fields for Eugene, particularly for its young people. He later established a scholarship foundation for Kidsports to make the benefits of participating in team sports more available to all.He served as the president of the University of Oregon Foundation, and was later a very active Trustee Emeritus. He also presided over the Eugene Family YMCA, the Oregon Club, the Lane County Fair Board, and the Midtown Business Association. He served as the Chairman of the University of Oregon Sports Hall of Fame Committee and as a Director of the Sacred Heart Medical Center Foundation, where he was recently made a Director Emeritus.Over time, Charles was inducted into the Halls of Fame of the State of Oregon, University of Oregon, and to the Pac-10 Hall of Honor. He was named as the Man of the Year by Kidsports in both 1969 and 1978, and was the recipient of the University of Oregon’s Leo Harris Award in 1982. The Len Casanova Lifetime Achievement Award recently completed his list of honors.Charles is survived by his wife, Karen, his sisters Karen Wickstrand (Peter) and Sue Miller (Dwane), his children, Dylan McNamee (Heidi), Anne Rumsfeld (Nick), Rebecca Blazek (Jerry), and Jennifer Deming (Bart), six extraordinary grandchildren and dozens of nieces, nephews and cousins who will find their family circus very different without its ringmaster..Services will be held at the Shedd Institute (868 High Street) in Eugene at 11:00 am on Saturday, July 13. A private burial will be held at Rest Haven Cemetery. Arrangements have been handled by Musgrove Family Mortuaries.In lieu of flowers, his family asks that donations be made to Kidsports, to St. Thomas Episcopal Church, or to the Oregon Health Sciences University Cancer Research Center.