Warren William Wylie Jr.

Warren William Wylie Jr. passed away on November 17, 2018 after a short illness.

He was born in Springfield, Massachusetts June 4, 1924.  He is preceded in death by his first wife, Vera; second wife, Mary; and son, Bruce.  He is survived by his daughter, Connie; son-in-law, Skip; son, Phil; daughter-in-law, Joann; stepson, Stephen Mahony; daughter-in-law, Ann; eleven grandchildren; ten great grandchildren; and one great-great grandson, Jack.

During the depression, his family moved around looking for work. They settled in Albuquerque in 1937. One of Warren’s first jobs, as a teenager, was working at the first New Mexico State fair in 1938. When WWII started, he volunteered for the Army Air Corps. He became a gunner and ordinance armer on the B-17 Flying Fortress. He married his first wife, Vera, and then within a year, was deployed overseas.  He was with the 8th Air Force, 95th bomb group, stationed in Horum, England. He arrived in England in June 1943, shortly after his nineteenth birthday. While flying his fifth mission, July 30th, his plane was shot down over German occupied Holland. He bailed out and was captured upon landing. He spent the remaining part of the war in prison of war camps, mostly in Stalag 17B near Krems, Austria. It was a brutal, harsh experience for a young man.  He formed many lifelong friendships with fellow prisoners.

After the war, he stayed in the Army Air Corps (later becoming the Air Force) for a few years. He and Vera had three children, Connie, Bruce, and Phil. After leaving the service, he went into the construction business where he remained until his retirement in 1986. He last worked for K. L. House Construction company as an estimator.  In 1969 he married his second wife, Mary. His first wife, Vera, passed away a few years prior.

He was always an active person. He pitched softball in a local league, member of a bowling league, square dance caller and Vice President of a local square dance club. He was an avid bridge player, a game he picked up in the prison camp, and was excellent in throwing horseshoes. A “double ringer” was not much of a surprise. He owned a cabin in the Jemez mountains and loved snowmobile riding. Summer or winter, the family would often spend their weekends in the mountains.  Later in life he was forced to slow down due to arthritis in both knees, but his mind remained sharp. Being in construction, he met many of Albuquerque’s leaders and businessmen, often telling interesting stories of Albuquerque’s past.  Warren had a long and interesting life. He had many blessings and endured many hardships.  He will be greatly missed by his family and friends.

Friends may visit Tuesday, November 27, 2018, 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. at FRENCH – Lomas.  Mass will be celebrated Wednesday, November 28, 2018, 8:30 a.m. at Our Lady of the Annunciation Catholic Church, 2532 Vermont St NE, Albuquerque, NM 87110.   A Reception will follow after the mass at the Parish.  Interment will follow with military honors at Santa Fe National Cemetery.