Warren Mervin, a faithful volunteer who operated the Commerce City Volunteers of America Dining Center for the past five years passed away on November 21 of 1998. His family and many friends miss Warren.

Warren was born and raised in a tiny three-room home on Adams Street with seven brothers and sisters. His brother, Bob still lives in the home.

In 1948 Warren and his wife moved to Commerce City. They lived on Quebec Street. "We were out in the country," his daughter, Carol Mervin says "It was a one room apartment, heated with coal. We carried our water and heated it on the stove. Those were hard times."

Warren built a home on 54th Avenue.

`"Dad was a hard worker, even up to the end and he taught us to work hard," Carol remembers. "Long ago he told us that if we wanted extras we would have to work for them. I'm thankful that my parents taught us how to work."

One time Carol wanted a pink cardigan like a friend had. "It was so soft," Carol said. Finally Warren sent his wife after it. "It was the wrong material and wasn't the same as that soft pink cardigan," she continues, "but I never told them."

Warren had two sons and two daughters and worked in a flour mill. He worked for Silver Steel (now Riders Steel) and was a truck driver, making trips to Utah.

Warren had a problem, he was a heavy drinker and the kids didn't like him much.

"But he had values," Carol adds. "He did the best he could."

Warren's wife died 22 years ago, in 1976. "Dad started changing after Mom died. He quit drinking in 1978," Carol recalls. "The combination of Mom's death and he joined the LDS church."

Warren joined the church of Latter Day Saints and belonged to the City Park Branch. He found so much love in the church his life started changing.

"He loved the gospel and when he found out about Heaven he was excited that there will be a better life," Carol relates. "He discovered that somebody would forgive him."

On one occasion Warren was working at night and was coming home around midnight. He was riding on a MOPED and a car came up behind him and hit him. His lung was punctured and he spent six or eight weeks in the hospital. That's when he stopped smoking.

Warren went to work for Steel Inc. In 1967 or 1968 and was there until he retired in 1987. He began to work for the Volunteers of America in 1987 and had worked in various locations.

"Dad had so much love for people. Even when he felt bad he wouldn't quit. He has been sick since 1981."

Warren had a heart attack in July and when he came home from the hospital he moved in with Carol. "He was having a hard time. He was falling down and had an eye disease but he wouldn't quit. He probably would have died a long time ago but he felt that people needed him."

When his children were young and got sick Warren told them that if they went on to school they would get their minds off of it and feel better. It was his philosophy in life. There were days that he didn't feel good but he insisted that he had to go to work "I'll forget how bad I feel," he insisted.

Warren's last day at the VOA dining center was on September 24 of 1998. His birthday was September 27th and he had a heart attack. When he came home he moved in with Carol but his health didn't improve.

IN 1994 Carol spent nearly a year in Louisiana as a LSD missionary. "Dad was proud of me," she says. The missionaries support themselves and live in an apartment that the church finds for them.

Carol is a nurse's aid for Hospice of Metro Denver. She does home health care for terminally ill people who have six months or less to live. "The week before Dad died I lost six patients." Warrens brother and brother in law also passed away in November.

Every morning on the way to the mealsite Warren picked up Irene Mollandor and Eula who both helped at the Center. He took them home after the lunch.

Irene took "Access a Ride" to the hospital to see Warren every week on either Saturday or Sunday. Often her daughter went with her. Irene is now carrying on Warren's mission at the VOA dining center.

Warren had 10 grandchildren and eight great grandchildren. He was 73 years old.