THE NEWS-TIMES [Danbury] -- August 13, 1999

James E. WARBURTON, 79, a Danbury, Conn. Native, died on Thursday, August 5, 1999 in Denton, Texas of a heart attack.

His gentle, patient, loving nature influenced not only the many students whose lives he touched, but his loving family who cherishes his memory.

Mr. WARBURTON was born on June 17, 1920 to Hugh A. and Margaret D. SMITH and was adopted by John and Anastasia [DALEY] WARBURTON. He graduated from Danbury High School and from Danbury State Teachers College in 1941. He received his master’s degree from New York University.

He began his teaching career, which lasted over 40 years, in Southbury and Ashford schools. After his military service, he was teacher/principal in Bethlehem and served as principal in Bethany and Sherman. From 1970 to 1978, Mr. WARBURTON was principal of Center School and Huckleberry Hill School, director of elementary education and acting superintendent of Brookfield schools, until his retirement from Connecticut in 1978. He also taught in California, Florida and Texas, where he made his most recent home.

Mr. WARBURTON was a veteran of World War II, serving from 1942 to 1945. He served in Algeria, Tunisia and Italy in the U.S. Army.

Mr. WARBURTON most recently made his home in Corinth, Texas with his daughter Colleen. He had previously resided in Inverness, Fla. with his beloved wife of 51 years, Evelyn JONES WARBURTON, now deceased. He had visited his beloved friends and family in Connecticut in June for his college reunion and was planning another visit in October.

He is survived by his loving family: his daughters, Pamela W. MUNSON of Orlando, Fla., Christine E. WARBURTON of Minneapolis, Minn. and Colleen W. DUNLOP of Corinth, Texas; his deceased son James’ children, Brittany and James WARBURTON of Dallas, Texas; and his sister, Mary S. LECHWAR of Fairfield, Calif.

A Funeral Mass was held on Wednesday at St. Mark’s Catholic Church in Denton, Texas with Father Eugene SWEENEY officiating.

Please contact the Mulkey-Mason/Jack Schmitz and Son Funeral Home, 705 North Locust St., Denton, TX 76201 with any correspondence. Their phone number is (940) 382-6622.

Mr. WARBURTON will be greatly missed by his beloved family and those whose lives he affected and enriched. His memory will always remain in our hearts.

[James E. SMITH WARBURTON was adopted by my great-grandmother's brother John WARBURTON & his wife, Anastasia DALEY WARBURTON. Is there anyone out there who knows the circumstances of the adoption? An obituary that I'll be posting shortly, says his natural father died in 1948. On top of his father dying, his adoptive father died just five days later. Both fathers lived in Danbury.]