Thomas C. Warfield's Obituary
Thomas (Tom) Carlisle Warfield, 83, of Decatur passed away on Sunday, January 5, 2014.
He was born on March 16, 1930, in Cerro Gordo, Illinois, the location of the Warfield Homestead farm. When he was five years old, the family’s large modernized farm home burned down. In 1942, the family moved to a farm near Rantoul, Illinois. He graduated from Rantoul High School in 1948. He completed one year of college at the University of Illinois before entering the service during the Korean War, where he was stationed in Japan. After the war, he continued his education in the College of Agriculture at the University of Illinois where he married Ruth Carol Bulkley on June 18, 1955. He earned a Master’s degree in Agronomy specializing in corn genetics. His first job as a corn breeder was at Bear Hybrids in Decatur, Illinois, and he later worked at Van Horn Hybrids in Cerro Gordo, Illinois for 23 years. He converted the Prairie Dell School, a one room school house south of Cerro Gordo, into a corn research facility. He had attended the school as a child. In 1983 he founded his own company, Hybrid Concepts, where he had worked as recently as last spring. He was very innovative in his field, creating machines, devices, and developing computer systems for corn breeding. He thoroughly enjoyed experimental gardening, caring for and spending time with family, political debate and was always armed with a funny pun in his pocket. He was member and former elder of First Presbyterian Church.
Surviving is his wife, Ruth Warfield of Decatur. Children: Julia Wittig of Decatur, Betty Bemis (Timothy Bemis) of Indianapolis, IN, Thomas Christopher Warfield (Anne Warfield) of Springfield, IL. Grandchildren: Jason Wittig of Decatur, Jennifer Bagnas (Marco Bagnas) of Burke, VA, Sara Bemis of Indianapolis, IN, Emily Bemis of St. Louis, MO, Benjamin Bemis of Indianapolis, IN. Great Grandchild: Zachary Kai Bagnas. Sisters: Esther Moore of Fountain Valley, CA, Margery Heddens (John Heddens) of Bloomington, IL. Brother: Robert Warfield (Janet Warfield) of Bloomington, IL. Also surviving are 11 nieces and nephews and 6 great nieces.
He was preceded in death are his parents Thomas Warfield Senior, Ruth Dobson Warfield and his sisters Kathryn Warfield and Carolyn VonWolf.
Visitation for Thomas will be 6-8 PM Friday, Saturday, January 10, 2014 in Moran & Goebel Funeral Home, 2801 N. Monroe Street, Decatur, IL 62526. Graveside service will be 10 AM Saturday, January 11, 2014 in Graceland Cemetery with military rites conducted by the Macon County Honor Guard. A Memorial service celebrating Tom’s life will be 11 AM Saturday in First Presbyterian Church with Rev. Jim Montgomery officiating. Memorials are suggested to First Presbyterian Church or the Alzheimer Association.
The family of Thomas (Tom) Carlisle Warfield is being served by Graceland/Fairlawn Funeral Home, 2091 N. Oakland Avenue, Decatur, IL. View the on line obituary and send condolences to the family at www.gracelandfairlawn.com.
What’s your fondest memory of Thomas?
What’s a lesson you learned from Thomas?
Share a story where Thomas' kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Thomas you’ll never forget.
How did Thomas make you smile?