Thomas Henry Warnock, 75, died at 8 p.m., February 15, 2002, at University Hospital, Tamarac, FL. He was born June 19, 1926, in Savanna, IL, to William and Elisabeth Warnock, nee Potratz; he married Virginia, nee Arechederra, in Venezuela, South America, in May 1949; he is also survived by one daughter, two sons; four brothers; and eight grandchildren; he was preceded in death by his parents. Thomas was a graduate of Mt. Carroll, Illinois Public School system. He was not only the quarterback on the high school football team, but also the valedictorian of the Senior class. He completed the requirements for high school graduation several months early so that he could enlist in the U.S. Navy in the spring of 1944. Upon discharge from military service, he enrolled at the University of Illinois in Urbana. He received a B.S. degree in Civil Engineering from that institution in 1947. Upon graduation, he was employed in Venezuela, South America, by Standard Oil Company. In 1950 he returned to Springfield, Illinois, to work with the Illinois Department of Transportation for several years before returning to Venezuela to hold engineering positions with several different organizations, in relation to the development of Venezuela’s oil resources and other infrastructure. In 1961, he returned to the U.S. and worked with a private engineering firm in Illinois. In 1964, he returned to work with the Illinois Department of Transportation from which he retired to Florida in 1990. He was a responsible and caring father, dedicated to providing guidance, support, and moral values to his children and will be remembered dearly. Services were held on February 16, 2002, accompanied by friends and relatives at Forest Lawn Funeral Home, Pompano Beach, Florida. Interment was made at the Forest Lawn Cemetery.
