Tracy S. Warren, Sr.
Tracy S. Warren, Sr., 97, was born on April 29, 1923 and died of Covid-19 on January 10, 2021. He was born in Dallas, Texas to James C. and Letta P. Warren. After he graduated from Dallas Technical High School in 1942, he joined the Navy to help fight in World War II.
He was trained as a Signalman 2 in the Navy and served in the South Pacific for four years, on ships such as the USS Requisite and the USS Chandler. He was on the USS Requisite, sweeping for mines, during the Battle of Tarawa in 1943. Later he was at Iwo Jima, Japan when the Battle of Iwo Jima took place. During the Battle of Iwo Jima he told his captain that the Marines had taken Mt. Suribachi. The captain asked how he knew. Tracy replied that he saw them raise the American flag at the top of the hill. It was a small flag that one of the Marines had carried, but it was later replaced by a larger flag so that the troops on the other side of the island could see it. An Associated Press combat photographer took a photo of the raising of the second flag. This photograph became the iconic Iwo Jima photograph that was later used as a model for the statue that is now known as the United States Marine Corps War Memorial (Iwo Jima Memorial) in Arlington, Virginia. Later, Tracy was on a ship preparing for battle at Okinawa, Japan, about 500 miles away from Nagasaki, when the atomic bombs were dropped on Nagasaki and Hiroshima, and the war ended. He was awarded several medals in recognition of his military service.
After the war, Tracy returned to Dallas and attended Southern Methodist University (SMU), while also serving as a Second Lieutenant in the Air Force Reserves. He graduated with a degree in Geology and began working as a Geologist with an oil company in Midland, Texas. He had always been interested in electronics, so after a few years as a geologist, he took a job as salesman for Motorola and then General Electric, selling and installing two-way radios and antennas for businesses and law enforcement agencies. In the 1960s he started his own business (named Commtronics) to continue this work; he operated that business for four years.
Tracy was fascinated by computers when they were introduced. He took every course he could find in order to learn about them, although there were not many courses to be found in the 1960s and early 1970s. But by the early 1980s, he was building desktop computers for himself and others. Not only did he build the computers, he built the components that went into them. He became an expert in computers, both hardware and software, and retained a passion for them for the rest of his life.
In 1980 Tracy moved to Corsicana, Texas and, a few years later, he began employment at Elk Corporation, first as an Electrician, then as the Information Technician. He remained at Elk Corporation until he was 84 years old before retiring.
Tracy pursued many interests, including travel, antique cars, reading, teaching, investing, and law. He was always passionate about running and fitness, running five miles a day until he was 84 years old. He taught Sunday School at Methodist churches for several years, was a Scoutmaster for the Boy Scouts in the 1960s, and was a member of the Civil Air Patrol for many years. He was also a member of the Corsicana Lodge #63 of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows (IOOF).
Tracy married Mary Cone of Dallas in 1949 and they had five children: one son and four daughters. Tracy was preceded in death by his parents, his two brothers, his wife, son, one daughter, one grandson, and two sons-in-law. He is survived by three daughters, Patricia Withrow (of Corsicana), M. Wise, and Carol Millsap, five grandchildren and seven greatgrandchildren.
Tracy Warren was a man of true integrity and honor. He was proud to serve his country and taking care of his family was of the utmost importance to him. He loved talking to people from all walks of life and he tried to help any person who needed assistance, saying that others had helped him in his life and he wanted to pass it on.
Burial services will be held at Resthaven Memorial Park in Corsicana, Texas. Pallbearers will be: Joel Withrow, Kevin Skinner, David Stone, Jason Millsap, Allen Millsap, Cristy Stone, and Travis Johnson.
A memorial service at Corley Funeral Home in Corsicana will be announced at a later date.
An online guestbook is available at www.corleyfuneralhome.com and selecting the Tracy S. Warren obituary.
