Irma Warr was born on Oct 3, 1932 to William and Flossie Fuller in Flint, MI. Being the youngest of four girls growing up in a Depression-Era household, Irma didn’t have her own room, but spent her childhood sleeping on the couch in the living room of the family home. Because of this, she woke up every morning to the sight of her father in the next room, drinking coffee and reading the Bible at the kitchen table. She said it was her father’s spiritual discipline that instilled in her the spiritual discipline that would be the foundation of her life from a very early age.
Irma was the first person in her family to attend college, obtaining a B.A. in Education from Northwestern Bible College in Minneapolis, MN in 1955. It was while Irma was at college that she came into contact with the Navigators, A Christian Discipleship ministry that was destined to play a significant role in the rest of her life. In Jul of 1955, Irma went to work at the headquarters of the Navigators in Colorado Springs, CO, where she did a little of everything, including working the switchboard (Google that if you have no idea what it means.) In 1959, The Navigators sent Irma to Oklahoma City to work at the Hough Ear Institute and to lead women’s Bible Studies. Shortly after she moved to Oklahoma City, she met a local businessman named Gene Warr who was leading men’s Bible Studies for the Navigators. In 1964, she and Gene were married.
Irma and Gene devoted their lives to serving God and serving others. They led innumerable Bible Studeis and invested personally in the lives of countless individuals, couples, and families. Irma was a servant, a giver, and a gracious hostess to people from every continent except Antarctica (although if some penguins had ever waddled through the door, she would have gladly made them some tea and told them about Jesus).
Irma was also a kind and loving mother and Nana to her children and grandchildren, who learned patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and love from her sterling example.
On Feb 28, 2021, Irma’s life on this earth ended, and her real life, the life for which she was created, began.
“Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.” (1 John 3:2-3)
Irma was preceded in death by her parents; her sisters, Audrey Sadler, and Dorothy Bishop; her husband; her step daughters, Mary Beth Salazar and Genese Leeper; and her daughter in law, Christi Warr.
Irma is survived by her sister, Marjorie Behnke of Flint, MI; her sons, Kevin (Gary) of Lewes, DE, Kyle (Carrie) of Edmond and Kori (Veronica) of Edmond; and her step daughter, Kate (Larry) Rutledge of Oklahoma City; her grandchildren, Braylon Burkhart, Lauren Warr, Kasie Mason, Jake Warr, Isaac Warr, Luke Warr, Mendi Hawkins, Rob Leeper and T.J. Leeper; and numerous nieces, nephews, and great grandchildren.
Because of COVID restrictions, there will be a private memorial for the family. A public memorial service will be held at a later time. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The Navigators at P.O. Box 6000, Colorado Springs, CO 80934-6000.
Mercer Adams Funeral Service