Warren William Davenport

Warren William Davenport, 82, Tecumseh, KS passed away on Wednesday, October 1, 2008 in the Manor Care Home of Topeka, KS.  Warren was born on December 7, 1925 in Riley, KS.  He was the ninth child of Ross Davenport and Leona (Willis) Davenport.  He attended Riley county schools and Manhattan High School before he joined the navy to serve in World War II.  He was a Gunner’s Mate 3rd class as he moved from the Navy to the Merchant Marines serving on the USS Edward Burleson in the North Sea, ports in England, Algiers, North Africa and Italy.  After Germany was defeated he served in the Philippines.

After the war he attended the University of Kansas State, Manhattan becoming a true KSU Wildcat and was very proud of it!  When he decided college was not for him he moved to Topeka to become a carpenter’s apprentice and there met Nola “Peggy” W. Nutter, winning her affections by offering a bag of popcorn if she would go with him to the movies and not another young man.  They married on August 28, 1948 in Nola’s parents’ home.  She survives of the home.

Warren was a general contractor in Topeka having been a partner in Wasser & Davenport Construction and later creating the Davenport Construction Company.  Many in Shawnee County live in the beautiful homes he built which were his true passion and show of craftsmanship.  He built numerous structures enjoyed by Topekans including the Hope Center, the Topeka Rescue Mission, the log cabin at the Ward-Meade Foundation, and many area churches.

Warren was a farmer at heart and continued to enjoy gardening, harvesting mushrooms, gooseberries, Asian pears and persimmons into his 80’s.

He served the community through his memberships with the Highland Park United Methodist Church, Tecumseh Kiwanis Club, as a baseball coach when he was a young man with the Highland Park Optimist Club and by helping those in need in any way he could.

His family was what was most important to him and he was loved and admired by a daughter Monica (Randall) Rose, Tecumseh, KS, sons Stanton (Kathy) Davenport of Kansas City, MO and Bradford (Donna) Davenport, Tecumseh, KS and a daughter Lori Davenport (Glenn Seaver) of Topeka, KS; grandchildren Alison (Grant) Williams, Tecumseh, KS, Leslie (Gregory) Rask, Maple Grove, MN, Meredith (Christopher) Lewis, Olathe, KS, Garrett (Lynsey) Magner, Lees Summit, MO, Grayson (Hannah) Magner, LaCygne, KS and Courtney Magner, Manhattan, KS; 5 great-granddaughters and 1 great-grandson.

Other survivors include a brother Bill Davenport, Keats, KS; a sister Bonnie Quinn, Wamego, KS; a half-sister Gayle Elliott of Independence, MO; sisters-in-law Elnora Davenport, Ottawa, KS, Beverly Nutter, Sun City, AZ, Marilyn Davenport, Manhattan, KS and Eileen Nutter, Elk Creek, NE.

Services will be on Monday, October 6, 2008 at 11:00 a.m. in the sanctuary at Highland Park United Methodist Church, Topeka, KS with military honors provided by the United States Navy.  Cremation with private inurnment at Westlawn Memorial Gardens will be at a future date.  Warren will lie in state after 2:00 p.m. Sunday at the Brennan-Mathena Funeral Home where the family will receive friends Sunday from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Topeka Rescue Mission, the Alzheimer’s Association or Highland Park United Methodist Church and sent to the funeral home, 800 SW 6th Ave, Topeka, KS 66603.

Online condolences may be sent to www.brennanmathenafh.com.