Jerry William Warner, 81, of Mill Creek passed away on May 8, 2024, following a brief illness.
He was born on Aug. 4, 1942, at Cherry Grove, the son of the late Roy and S. Kathryn Warner.
Mr. Warner was born into a farming family, and he continued to farm for the remainder of his life.
In 1976, he and his brother bought Elkins Distributing Co., the Bud Plant. They had one part-time employee and sold 75,000 cases of beer. For 45 years, he served as the president of the company. When they sold the business in 2021, they had 22 employees and had sold more than 600,000 cases of beer, wine, water, juice, and tea.
His life was a true American success story. In addition to farming, he loved hunting, fishing, and horseback riding. He shared his love of the outdoors with his children and grandchildren. He taught them how to hunt, fish and maintain the land they farmed. In the spring a person would often find him along the banks of Gandy Creek. Summers were spent in the hayfield, and in the fall, he could be found at his camp in Pendleton County getting ready for friends and family to join him for deer season.
Jerry was a long-time member of the Valley Bend Presbyterian Church. During his career he was a member of the West Virginia Beer Wholesalers Association and National Beer Wholesalers Association. He was a member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks.
He was formerly married to Evelyn Warner.
Left to cherish his memory are his fiancée, Sandra Swiger; a son, Mark Warner of Dailey; daughters, Lori Hinchman and husband, Neil of Milton, and Crystal Gibson and husband, Rod of Mill Creek; six grandsons, Silas, Clay, Warner, Garrett, Wade, and Hayes; two granddaughters, Brooke and Logan; two great-grandsons, Graysin and Mac; a brother, Tom Warner of Beverly; a sister, Wanda Morgan of East Dailey; and many close friends who lived both near and far.
Friends may call from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday at the Tomblyn Funeral Home in Elkins. A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday in the funeral home chapel with Pastor Ann Fretwell officiating. Interment will follow at the Greenwood Cemetery in East Dailey.
Memorial contributions can be made to the Valley Bend Presbyterian Church, c/o Lois Vanscoy, PO Box 185, Dailey, WV 26259.
Condolences may be expressed to the family at www.tomblynfuneralhome.com.
