Fern Warburton

Fern Claudine Warburton, 93, of Tulsa, Oklahoma and formerly of Coffeyville, Kansas, died Saturday, September 5, 2009 at St. Francis Hospital, Tulsa. Fern was born December 1, 1915 at Buffalo, Oklahoma to Claude Furgason and Lola Royer Furgason. She grew up in Buffalo and graduated high school there. Fern attended Northwestern College, Alva, Oklahoma. She met and later married, Dorson LowellDoc Warburton on February 17, 1938 at Wichita. The Warburtons moved to Coffeyville in 1945. In 1947,Doc established the Coffeyville Cab Company and operated in until 1952. From 1951-1956, he operated Warburton Oil Company and in 1956,Doc founded Warburton Valve and with the partnership of his son, Tom, it became the largest industrial valve sales and service company in the Midwest and Rocky Mountain Regions. Through these many ventures, Fern was right besideDoc, supporting him in his business, while maintaining a home and raising two children. Doc preceded her in death on February 4, 2000 and Fern moved to Tulsa in 2003. She was an avid golfer, playing until she was 90 years old and she was a charter member of the Coffeyville Country Club. She was a member of Coffeyvilles First United Methodist Church and a choir member, there. Survivors are her son, Tom Warburton and his wife, Victoria of Tulsa, one daughter, Mary Ann Norfleet and her husband, Stuart Trebbe, of Portola Valley, California, four grandchildren, Heidi Jenkins and her husband, Eric of Jenks, Oklahoma, Derek Warburton and his wife, Michelle of Brandon, Florida, Tom Warburton, Jr. and his wife, Paula of Sitges, Spain and Aminda Harker and her husband, Michael of Columbus, Ohio. She was preceded in death by a brother, Pleasant Vernon Furgason. Funeral services will be 11:00 a.m., Friday, September 18, 2009 at Penwell-Gabel Ford-Wulf-Bruns Chapel, Coffeyville, with the Rev. Linda Harker officiating. Interment will be in Coffeyvilles Fairview Cemetery, under the direction of Penwell-Gabel Funeral Home. Her family suggests donations to the Coffeyville Regional Medical Center Foundation and donations may be sent to the funeral home. Friends may call at the funeral home Thursday, September 17, 2009 from 9 a.m. 8 p.m. Online condolences may be left at www.penwellgabelcoffeyville.com.