Charles Daniel Warren

On October 4, 2024, after a long and courageous battle against cancer, Charles Daniel “Danny” Warren, 69, passed away peacefully at his home in Las Cruces. 

Danny was born in Las Cruces on May 17, 1955, son of Charles E. and Bess E. Warren and brother to Elizabeth Jo Getz, James Leslie Warren and Carroll Ann Curtis. Danny attended Alameda Elementary, Alameda Junior High, and graduated from Mayfield High School in 1973. 

From an early age, Danny was exposed to his parents’ adventurous, entrepreneurial spirits. Weekends in summer were spent at Elephant Butte on their boat, and in winter, skiing in Cloudcroft and Ruidoso. As a boy, Danny swam on the Las Cruces Aquatic Team and was a strong swimmer his entire life. In high school, he was on the wrestling and football teams. Danny earned his black belt in the form of karate known as Kojosho, and encouraged his sons, nephew and niece to join him in the dojo. He also enjoyed riding his mountain bike, especially in the Robledo mountains, Doña Ana and Ruidoso. Danny’s first real job was at the family business, Warren Lumber and Paint. 

After high school, Danny served proudly in the U.S. Navy, assigned as a Sonar Technician on the USS Haddock SSN-621, a fast-attack nuclear submarine. He was stationed at Naval Base San Diego, Pearl Harbor Naval Base, Hawaii and Mare Island Naval Base, California. After completing his four-year enlistment, he worked in home building and firefighting/EMS, learning skills he would use decades later raising his family and renovating their 1920’s-built adobe home. 

In 1980, Danny continued his federal service when hired at White Sands Missile Range (WSMR) to work as an Electronic Technician for Range Timing, after which he transferred to the Office of the Test Directorate, now known as the Center for Countermeasures. Danny served there in several capacities, including Electro-Optical LASER Lab Chief, before retiring in 2015 with 38 years of combined federal service. Danny subsequently returned to WSMR to perform contract defense work (radar instead of LASERs) until March 2022. 

Danny was a devoted and authentic, family man. Always smiling, he was patient, kind and witty in support of his loved ones. With many answered prayers along the way, and motivated by his love for Lisa and family, he fought to stay with them as long as possible and was active until his last day. Danny is survived by his wife Lisa Lauritsen Warren; children Amanda Rhea Warren, Miles Adam Houser (Michelle Herrera), Phillip Charles Warren (Abby Warren), and Bridgette Warren Piñon (Christopher Piñon); Grandchildren Jamison, Parker, Charlie and Wiley Warren, Gracie, Augustus, and Lilly Piñon; and sister Carroll Warren Curtis. Danny is also survived by many cousins, in-laws, and three generations of nieces and nephews, each of whom he loved very much. He treasured his childhood stays with the Breaux, West and Beasley families, as well as the special opportunities he created to visit family and lifetime friends as he traveled for work. 

Danny joins in passing his beloved parents Charles E. and Bess E. Warren, nephew Clay Warren Curtis, sister Betty Jo Getz, brother James L. Warren, nephew Steven Getz, niece Caitlyn Curtis and grand-niece Rylei Getz. 

Danny and the family wish to acknowledge and thank the medical professionals who provided cancer, cardiac and palliative care, as well as to show their deep appreciation for special friends and family who helped hands-on with certain tasks, or who traveled to spend time with Danny, and the many others who regularly supported from a distance. 

There will be no Visitation. Relatives and friends are invited to attend a Celebration of Life service officiated by Jess Williams at 2:00 p.m. on October 28th at Getz Funeral Home Chapel. 

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to either Cowboys for Cancer Research, to support ongoing cancer research: C4CR Donation - Cowboys For Cancer Research (mybigcommerce.com, or to Help in Healing Home located on the Mayo Clinic campus in Phoenix, Arizona which supports patients and their caregivers: support us - Help In Healing Home : Help In Healing Home.