Warren Harding Mantooth, Sr. was born on November 6, 1920 in Wagoner County, Oklahoma to Augustus and Gertrude Turner Mantooth. He was the youngest of eleven immediate brothers and sisters. After graduation from Manual Training High School in Muskogee, Oklahoma, Warren accepted a football scholarship to attend Texas College in Tyler, Texas. WWII interrupted Warren's College education in his sophomore year. He dropped out of school and enlisted in the Army, and served with a group of combat engineers.
After the war, Warren joined his sister Katherine and brother Maceo in Chicago but soon returned to Texas College to finish his education. It was there he met his wife Jeraline Foster at a dance. The two were married and earned their Bachelor's Degrees from Texas College. The couple moved to New Mexico where Jeraline taught school and Warren received his Master's degree in Education from the University of New Mexico and later his teaching credentials from the University of Southern California. Warren and Jeraline moved their family to Oxnard, California where they taught school for several years. In 1964, Warren was hired as an elementary school principal by the Lompoc Unified School District. He served as principle of Vandenberg Elementary, Crestview and Los Berros Elementary schools until his retirement in 1983. Education was a passion his entire career and his concern for educating America's children did not end when he retired.
Fishing with his children, cooking and growing vegetables in his garden were cherished pastimes. Although Warren's ultimate pastime and passion was golf! Warren enjoyed extended driving summer vacations with his wife, daughter and son that combined visiting relatives in the Midwest, Oklahoma and Texas and camping, exploring and fishing in the national parks of the West.
Warren is survived by his wife of 65 years, Jeraline Mantooth, his son Warren Mantooth, Jr and numerous nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by a daughter Geralynn Geannine Mantooth and brothers Rupert Childers, Napolian Childers, Cooe-Van Childers, Jesse Mantooth, Maceo Mantooth, Kermit Mantooth and sisters Eulla Childers, Katherine Mantooth, Arlena Childers, Vera Childers, Lenora Childers, Alberta Mantooth, Luiza Mantooth and Buena Vista Mantooth.
A visitation will be held on Friday, October 11th from 12:00-1:00 pm with the funeral service immediately after the viewing at Starbuck-Lind Mortuary Chapel.