WARREN E. QUINN July 17, 1926 – May 14, 2022
Warren Quinn passed away peacefully on May 14, 2022, at age 95.
A memorial service was held on June 4, 2022, at Emerald Heights in Redmond, Washington, where he lived. Warren’s ashes were buried at the Doss Cemetery in Mossyrock, Washington on July 23, 2022.
Warren was born to George and Rosa Quinn on July 17, 1926, in Chehalis, Washington. He grew up in the Mossyrock area near Chehalis and attended Mossyrock Public School.
He served two years in the U. S. Army near the end of World War II, mostly on Leyte Island in the Philippians, 1945-1947, attaining the rank of Technical Sergeant at age 19.
Returning home he married his high school sweetheart, Bernice Birkhofer, on June 21, 1947. They began a long journey together for 75 years.
Warren attended Washington State College earning a BS in 1951 and an MS in 1952 in Physics. He continued his education at Harvard University earning a PhD degree in Physics in 1956.
Warren and Bernice moved to Los Alamos, New Mexico where Warren worked for 35 years at the Los Alamos National Laboratory doing Magnetic Fusion Energy Research. He participated in the first experiment to produce thermonuclear plasma in 1958. He did Administration Science and became division leader and deputy division leader.
Their daughter Diana Quinn Sanchez (Lawrence) was born in 1958 and sadly passed away from complications of acute leukemia in May 2002. After her death, Warren and Bernice moved to Kenmore, Washington to be near daughter Patricia (Trish) Quinn (Bill Asher). Trish was born in 1960 and has three children Amelia, Rosa and Gifford Quinn.
Warren was an outdoor person who loved jogging, hiking and mountain climbing. He climbed more than 25 “fourteeners” in Colorado and Mt. Adams and Mt. St. Helens in Washington.
Warren became a Christian at a young age and he and Bernice were steadfast Christians all their lives having attended The United Church in Los Alamos, New Mexico, Lake Forest Park Presbyterian Church in Lake Forest Park, Washington and the Bellevue Presbyterian Church in Bellevue, Washington.
Warren is survived by his wife, Bernice, daughter Trish, grandchildren Amelia, Rosa and Gifford Quinn. Warren was the oldest of seven siblings having three sisters and three brothers. He is survived by his youngest sister, Joy, and 16 nieces and nephews.
