Warren Dennis Pinkerton died on June 22, 2025 in Hermiston at the age of 78.
He was born on Sept. 6, 1946 to Ina and Woodrow Pinkerton in Canton, Ohio.
Though the surname may call to mind the namesake of the Pinkerton Detective Agency, Dennis’ family bore no relation. The family of six was of old Ohio stock, tracing their lineage to veterans awarded a claim after the Revolutionary War.
Dennis was a playful and clever child known best for his legendary pranks on schoolteachers, siblings and parents – no one was safe. Dennis graduated from Glenwood High School in 1964, enlisted in the U.S. Army and served in country from 1966 to 1968, seeing his share of combat. One of those actions was Operation Hawthorne, which left lingering emotional scars that he carried for life. He was wounded twice in combat and received two Purple Hearts.
After his service in Vietnam, Dennis enrolled at Kent State University, beginning his first semester just after the National Guard shootings on campus. He later married his high school sweetheart, Debbie. While married to Debbie, he moved to Texas seeking better opportunities in oil and gas construction and maintenance, becoming a father to his two beloved daughters, Kristie and Kelli. They later divorced and Dennis married Amy, with whom he had three children: Colin, Emily and Gregory.
Throughout his life, Dennis worked on many foreign assignments as a superintendent on energy projects in Libya (where he worked alongside Red Adair), South Africa, Venezuela, Mexico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Norway, with many more offers he had to turn down. While in Norway, he enjoyed traveling around Europe visiting Spain, Vienna, England, and Scotland. When he was working in the U.S., his assignments took him to Los Angeles, Calif., the San Francisco Bay area, St. Louis, Mo., Fort Collins, Colo., Houston, Texas and Richland (Tri-Cities), Wash. After retirement, Dennis settled in Hermiston with his wife Janie. Dennis and Janie enjoyed restoring small cabins in the Oregon mountains and on the coastline.
Dennis’ hobbies included gardening, fishing and fixing up classic cars, including his beloved baby-blue 1965 GTO. He also never passed up an opportunity for a wisecrack or practical joke – it was impossible not to laugh around Dennis, and his clever, incisive humor will be greatly missed.
Dennis is survived by his wife, Janie; his brothers, Richard and Allan; his children, Kristie (Michael) Wall, Kelli (Aaron) Phillips, Colin (Maria), Emily, and Gregory; 11 grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.
He was predeceased by his late wife, Amy and his sister, Sheila.
Dennis’ memorial service is scheduled for August 2025.
In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to your local cancer center or the American Cancer Society.
