Former State Farm Bureau Leader,
Warren Newberry, Passes Away

 

by: Bobby McDonald

 

Word has been received of the passing away of former executive director of the Texas Farm Bureau, Warren Newberry, in June. Mr. Newberry had an outstanding career with Farm Bureau, spanning some 40 years, and serving as executive director of the organization for some 17 years, having many friends and associates in the Northeast Texas area.

During his tenure as executive director of the state organization, he provided significant involvement that resulted in extreme growth in the organization and especially worked hard to develop the Young Farmer and Rancher Program, that was his "heart and spirit," as the program had begun his involvement in the organization. He recognized the importance of encouraging and preparing young leaders to the future of the organization and worked tirelessly with both youth and young farmers to develope leaders for the future. "We continue to reap the benefits of Warren's leadership initiatives, as we see a continued source of leaders in our organization," expressed current TFB Executive Director, Vernie Glasson. "Warren also was extremely dedicated to the grassroots and management structure of the Farm Bureau organization, where he also left a legacy!"

Prior to his selection as executive director of the Texas Farm Bureau, Mr. Newberry worked as a field representative for the American Farm Bureau Federation and was a native of Lone Wolf, Oklahoma, where he was born on the family farm, on March 20, 1924, the son of Clyde and Juanita Tucker Newberry. He passed away on June 16, 2010.

 

 

 

He grew up in Lone Wolf and after graduation from Lone Wolf High School, he attended the University of Oklahoma, before returning to help on the family farm. He was married to Jewel Ashley Newberry, in Wichita Falls, Texas, on March 15, 1946. They were the parents of two children. Newberry lived in a number of places during his career, including 30 years in Lone Wolf, Oklahoma, two years in Chicago, IL; fourteen years in Vernon, Texas; 30 years in Waco, Texas; and also in Oklahoma City and Tomball, Texas. He was a member of the First Christian Church, the Rotary Club, and past president of the Waco Rotary Club.

He was preceded in death by his parents, and step-father, Bill Hill.

Survivors include: his wife, Alma Jewel Newberry, of Tomball, Texas; a son, Steven and wife Connie, of Oklahoma City; a daughter, Linda Ann Taylor and husband James, of Tomball, Texas; three grandchildren, Steven Newberry of Burlington, NC, Sara Nicole Crawford and husband Justin, of Oklahoma City, and Matthew Allen Newberry of Oklahoma City; and great-grandchildren, Hanna and Jackson Crawford, of Oklahoma City.

Services were held on June 19, 2010, at People's Funeral Chapel, in Lone Wolf, Oklahoma.

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