OWENSBORO, Ky. — SFC James C. Warnock, U.S. Army, Retired, 57, of Owensboro, passed away on Sept. 18, 2024. James was born April 25, 1967, in Dumont, New Jersey, to the late James S. and Anne (Barbera) Warnock.
He retired as a JROTC Instructor for the Ohio County School Board and retired from the U.S. Army after more than 20 years of service.
In his spare time, James watched his daughter, Kate, practice and play soccer. He traveled and worked on keeping the house and yard immaculate. James was a Mets and West Virginia Mountaineers fan. He valued spending time with his family and enjoyed tinkering as he was a soldier through and through.
James passed away after more than nine years of fighting brain cancer. Everyone who was ever part of Jim’s medical team says he was the toughest and most resilient patient they had ever seen. Soon after his first craniotomy, he told everyone he was “tougher than woodpecker lips,” and “it was just like getting a splinter out.”
His wife and best friend, Elizabeth, cared for him, at home, in the final months of his fight. Jim loved his family and country fiercely and sacrificed so much to protect them both. He was deeply loved and respected by his students. Despite his initial reservations when he started teaching, he grew to love what he did and worked tirelessly to help his students succeed.
Along with his parents, James is preceded in death by his grandmother, Anna Barbera.
James is survived by his wife, Elizabeth (Wilson) Warnock; his children, Laura, Hallie, and Katelynn Warnock; his grandchildren, Kallie and Cora; his sibling, John Warnock (Kay); his nephews, Tyler Warnock, Will Wilson, Braxton Wilson, and Reid Wilson; his niece, Brianna Warnock; his mother and father-in-law, Dennis and Paula Wilson, and his brother-in-law, Chris Wilson (Beth).
Mass of a Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 24, at St. Mary Magdalene Parish, with Fr. Jamie Dennis presiding. Visitation will be on Monday, Sept. 23, at Haley McGinnis Funeral Home & Crematory, from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. and again on Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2024, from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. at St. Mary Magdalene Parish. Prayers will be held at 6:30 p.m., during visitation, on Monday at the funeral home. Burial will follow at Saint Mary Magdalene Catholic Cemetery.
Expressions of sympathy may take the form of donations to Friends of Daviess County Animal Shelter and Control at 2620 KY-81, Owensboro, KY 42301. Envelopes will be available at the funeral home.
Haley McGinnis Funeral Home & Crematory is both honored and privileged to be entrusted with the care of Mr. Warnock. Leave your condolence messages for the family of SFC James C. Warnock, U.S. Army, Retired, and sign his virtual guestbook at www.haleymcginnis.com.