Kenneth Fuller Warren

Kenneth F. Warren, formerly of Ludlow and Westfield, MA., passed away peacefully and of natural causes in Westfield on May 25^th at the age of 97. Born in 1923 in Ludlow MA., he was the son of Raymond L. and Margaret Weir Warren.  He graduated from Ludlow High School and shortly thereafter joined the Navy in 1942 to participate in their flight training program.  He eventually flew F6F Hellcats and other naval fighter aircraft before being discharged in 1946.   Post WWII, he helped start a school where students would learn the essentials of aircraft mechanics and flying.  His first plane was purchased and then served as one of the school “projects”.  In 1946 he also joined the 131^st Fighter Squadron as a P-47 pilot.   This squadron eventually became part of the 104^th Massachusetts National Guard located at Barnes airfield.  His retirement from the Massachusetts Air National Guard was in 1966 after 20 years of service.  During those years, he spent one on active duty in Phalsbourg, France (1961) as cold war politics prevailed and the Berlin Wall was constructed to help split Germany into the democratic West Germany and a Communist East Germany. 

In 1949 Kenneth married Bridget Karczmarczyk also of Ludow, MA. and in 1951 joined Pan American Airways where he “worked” until his retirement in the 1983.  The first years at Pan Am were as a navigator on transatlantic flights flying to London, Europe, and Africa. Later, he became a first officer on DC-8s and eventually became a captain flying 707s.  By the time he retired 1983 he had graduated from flying the older, smaller, aircraft to piloting the latest and world’s largest commercial airliner, the 747.

In retirement, Kenneth was an avid golfer, skier, and traveler.   He visited his children and grandchildren on a regular basis. 

Kenneth was predeceased by his brothers Raymond “Junior”, Willis Lorenzo, and his sister Marion Miller Weferling.   His wife Bridget, died unexpectedly in 1995.   He leaves a sister, Elizabeth Jane Kogut of Falmouth, MA., two sons, William E. Warren of Springfield and Richard A. Warren and his wife Maria Cevallos of Acton MA.   He is also survived by 5 grandchildren, Lisa Marie and her husband Nathan LeMay, Scott Eric Warren and his wife Diana Long, Maria Cristina Warren and husband Richard LaRock, Margarita Isabel Warren and her husband Victor Guzik, and Richard David Warren as well as 5 great-grandchildren. 

Private Services will be held in Island Pond Cemetery.   Donations in Kenneth’s memory may be made to a charity of the individual’s choice.