Warren Holland

Warren Ernest Holland, 86, died peacefully at Four Corners Health Care Center, Tuesday, March 14, 2017. He leaves his wife of 44 years, Marilyn Holland, his son Glenn Holland, his daughter Aleta Sherman, their spouses, five grandchildren, four great grandchildren, and many close friends.

Warren spent his youth in Zion, IL. His most treasured activity as a child was tagging along with his Dad as he took boats out on Lake Michigan and helping with the Coast Guard during World War II. Warren graduated with a B.S. in Mining Engineering with Honors from the University of Illinois. He married his first wife, Barbara, after graduation, received a commission in the U.S. Air Force, and served his country for 2 years. He went to work for Humble Oil & Refining Company (now Exxon) and moved to Houston, Texas. During his 30 years with Exxon, he worked on research in well stimulation, cementing and drilling, and helped develop a computer system for monitoring wells in the field remotely. He was the inventor or co-inventor on 16 patents and was the author of 7 publications, and 8 major company reports.

Warren became a ham radio operator while in Houston and achieved an Extra Class License. He loved to talk with other radio operators from all over the world, would huddle with his Dad in the radio shack while visiting in Mountain Home, AK, and acted as a communication bridge when telephone lines were out during hurricanes that struck the Louisiana and Texas Gulf Coasts.

Warren took early retirement from Exxon and he and Marilyn moved west to Durango in 1987 where they happily got involved in the community. Exxon asked Warren to return after the Valdez oil spill and he reported to Alaska where he worked with the Inuit natives and encouraged Exxon to hire as many of them as possible.

Warren loved the adventure of being outdoors in Durango. He was a member of Durango Search and Rescue, a Captain in Civil Air Patrol, and loved to teach classes on the use of his new favorite piece of equipment – the GPS. He worked for La Plata County for 5 years as a Technical Advisor for oil and gas, and Emergency Management Assistant, earning his 5-year pin. He loved to hike in the summer and ski in the winter. He also was an avid photographer, a hobby that he and Marilyn shared. He became a member of Kiwanis. He had a beautiful voice and sang whenever he had a chance. Our world has lost a caring, dedicated, and fun-loving presence. He will forever and always be deeply missed.

Warren’s memorial service will be held at 10:00 a.m., Friday, April 21, 2017 at the First United Methodist Church at 2917 Aspen Dr., with a brunch reception to follow at the Doubletree Hotel. Warren cared deeply about education and to this end he supported the TRIO Talent Search program, an organization that helps first-generation, low-income students go to college. In lieu of flowers, donations in Warren’s memory can be made to Fort Lewis College Foundation, TRIO Talent Search Fund, 1000 Rim Drive, Durango, CO 81301.