Robert 'Red' L. Warburton

Robert 'Red' L. Warburton

June 13, 1929-Oct. 7, 2011

GERING, Nebraska -- Robert "Red" L. Warburton, 82, of Gering, passed away Friday, Oct. 7, 2011, at his home.

Robert "Red" L. Warburton was born on June 13, 1929, in Oberlin, Kansas to Goldie (Larreau) and Fred Warburton. He was raised in McCook, graduating in 1947.

He attended McCook Junior College and joined the National Guard after high school. He was part of the 1946 McCook Bison undefeated State Championship football team that was identified as the Golden Anniversary Team in 1996 as part of the Nebraska High School Hall of Fame.

He moved to the Panhandle in the 1950s. He worked construction eventually starting his own bricklaying business, Warburton Construction. He continued even after becoming owner/operator of the Rompus Room tavern in the 1970s. He sold the construction company to his son Jim in 1981 and the Rompus Room in 1993.

Red sponsored softball and bowling teams for years and loved to attend local sporting events especially those of his son and grandsons. He was nominated by the Rompus Room softball team for membership in the Nebraska Softball Hall of Fame for his more than 20 years of softball sponsorship and generosity.

Red knew everyone and was generous to a fault.

He held memberships in the American Legion, Elks, and Eagles.

He was preceded in death by his parents; son, Danny Lee; and brothers, Rocky and Pinky Warburton.

Red is survived by his daughter, Diane McKnight (Jim) of Scottsbluff; son, James Warburton (Liz) of Gering and daughter Dr. Shannon Black (Scott) of Ceresco, Nebraska; sister, Pauline Childs of Crete; as well as his grandsons: Jason, RJ, Raymond Runge, Tyler Rosenau, Jesse and Danny Warburton, Logan Black and step-grandson Michael Martin; 12 great grandchildren; 1 great great granddaughter; and numerous nieces and nephews.

His memorial service will be held on Tuesday, Oct. 11, 2011 at 11 a.m. at Gering Memorial Chapel. At his request, cremation was held.

Memorials can be made in Red's name to DOVES, Gering Organized Baseball, 23 Club or Prairie Haven Hospice.

Tributes of sympathy may be left at www.geringchapel.com.