Warren Ronald Prouty passed away on Feb. 29, 2024 in Walla Walla, Wash.
He was born on June 19, 1933 out on the Weiser Flats to Kenneth and Kathrine Gleim Prouty.
The family moved to the Dixie Creek area out of Midvale when he was young. He attended Midvale schools until he left in 1951 to join the United States Air Force. He traveled the world for a total of 22 years, doing two tours in Vietnam and receiving several air medals and the Distinguished Flying Cross medal.
During this time he married his hometown sweetheart, Rita Leone Poulson, on Aug. 4, 1954 in Yakima, Wash. They raised their three children, Terrie, Karen and Bart, in many different parts of the world. He enjoyed the outdoors, always taking the family camping and hiking no matter where they lived. When traveling from one duty station to the next, they always took a little time to explore the wonders of the world.
After Warren retired from the Air Force, he worked as an automotive mechanic until he found his second career as a semi-truck driver. He purchased his first “big rig” around 1980 and started traveling the United States and Canada with Rita by his side when she could. He did this for almost 20 years before his second retirement and earning yet another extraordinary award of one million accident-free miles. For this he earned a Hawaiian vacation for two.
He was always on the move, gardening and doing other outdoor things upon his second retirement. Warren and Rita also took on the job of campground hosts for several years and traveled to Arizona during the winters. From all his experiences he had many stories to tell, and he did a fine job of it. He loved to share his stories.
He is survived by his daughter, Karen and son, Bart (Carolyn); brothers, Kay of Vancouver, Wash. and Edgar of Towson, Md.; five grandsons; 17 great-grandchildren and a few great-great grandchildren; and numerous cousins, nieces and nephews.
Warren was preceded in death by his wife, Rita; daughter, Terrie; his parents; his sisters, Mary, Dorothy, Lillian, Catherine and Marie; and his brothers, Charles, Ralph, Bill, Allen, Frank, Norman and Galen.
A private family service will be held at Hillcrest Cemetery in Weiser, Idaho.
Burns Mortuary of Hermiston is in care of arrangements.
