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Larkin Bruce Warner
December 9, 1934 – September 27, 2021
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK – Larkin Bruce Warner of Oklahoma City died on September 27, 2021 at the age of 86. The only child of Earl Everett Warner and Daisy Pearl Payne Warner, he was born on December 9, 1934 in Washington, DC in Columbus, Ohio; Oxford, MS; and Springfield, PA, until 1946 when his father began a long career teaching political science at Ohio Wesleyan University in Delaware, OH.
Larkin graduated from Delaware High School in 1952 and Ohio Wesleyan in 1956, where he was awarded Phi Beta Kappa membership. His thesis was facilitated by a doctoral scholarship from the Ford Foundation; he received a Ph.D. in Economics from Indiana University in 1961. Dr. Larkin Warner joined the Oklahoma State University College of Business School of Economics in 1960 and was Regents Professor of Economics at OSU until his retirement in 1998. Larkin married Jean Todd Shumway on July 7, 1978 in Oklahoma City at Nichols Hills United Methodist Church while on leave of absence from OSU in the 1970s to serve as director of the Kerr Foundation’s Department of Economic Studies. Dr. Warner’s contributions to his profession, the Oklahoma State University Department of Commerce, the College of Business Administration, higher education, and the State of Oklahoma are numerous and outstanding. In addition to publishing numerous research articles and books, and lecturing at countless conferences and events, he has had a significant impact on the lives of students, colleagues, and friends. He will be remembered for his personal warmth, support, and encouragement to others, as well as for his intellectual curiosity, deep knowledge, selflessness, and exceptional common sense.
The projects that Dr. Warner was involved, the Committee on Reform of State Government of Governor George Nigh (1984), the Oklahoma Constitution Revision Study Commission (1990-91), the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education Citizens’ Commission on the Future of Oklahoma Higher Education ( 1997) and the Foundation for Oklahoma City Public Schools’ MAPS for Kids Committee (1999-2000), which even wrote a book called “Oklahoma City’s MAPS for Kids: A Citizen’s Initiative.” He has also been recognized for his work with the Oklahoma Council on Economic Education, the State Chamber – Oklahoma’s Association of Business and Industry, the Commission on Reform in State Government, the Oklahoma Constitution Revision Study Commission, and for his services as Staff Director for the Citizens Commission State Regent for the Future of Higher Education in Oklahoma; and Human Resources Director for the Oklahoma City Public Schools Foundation’s KIDS (Keep Improving District Schools) project. The Stillwater Chamber of Commerce, the Stillwater Industrial Foundation, the city government, and other local groups asked Dr. Warner for advice and assistance on a wide variety of economic issues. Many government groups and organizations urged Dr. Warner also called on to share his expertise on topics that affect Oklahoma’s economy.
Among the awards that Dr. Warner received the OSU University Extension “1988 Annual Faculty Award”, the Oklahoma Higher Education Heritage Association “Oklahoma Higher Education Hall of Fame” (2005), the Phi Beta Kappa Association of Oklahoma City “Phi Beta Kappa of the Year” ( 2009) and the Oklahoma City Public School Foundation Wall of Fame, Class 2011. Received the OSU Extension Annual Faculty Award for University Extension / Public Service Programs in 1990. After his retirement, Jean and Larkin moved to Oklahoma City. Larkin took participated in the Rotary Club of Oklahoma City, the Oklahoma City Economic Roundtable, the Economic Affairs Breakfast, the Economic Club of Oklahoma, Sigma Phi Epsilon, and the Oklahoma City Chapter of Phi Beta Kappa Nichols Hills United Methodist Church, the Kiva Sunday School class, and the many missionary and charity projects the Church supported.
Larkin loved the outdoors all his life. Adena and Margy fondly remember camping trips to Maine, Utah, Colorado, New Mexico, and more. He enjoyed sailing, racquetball, tennis, woodworking, and furniture making. His friends remember his eclectic taste and interest in music and socializing.
Dr. Warner leaves behind his 43-year-old wife, Jean Shumway Warner, his two daughters from a previous marriage, Adena Lynn Warner of Edmond, OK, and Margaret “Margy” June (Dale Herman) Warner of Eureka Springs, AR; one grandson, Andrew Warner Feldman from Edmond, OK, and three step-grandchildren: Andrew Herman from Cleveland, OH, Elizabeth “Liz” (Robert) Kaval from Roseburg, OR, and Matthew Herman from Austin, TX. Larkin’s 19-year marriage to former Shirley Margaret Jones ended in divorce.
The family thanks his carers Susan Tall Bull and Abidemi “BB” Omolabi for the excellent care.
A memorial service dedicated to Larkin’s life will be held at Nichols Hills United Methodist Church on Friday, October 1, 2021 at 1:00 p.m. The service will be broadcast live on facebook.com/nicholshillsumc.
Instead of flowers, the family is seeking donations in honor of Larkin to the Larkin Warner Endowed Scholarship at Oklahoma State University, Nichols Hills United Methodist Church in Oklahoma City, OK, or a charity of your choice.
Published by Lake Geneva Regional News on October 6, 2021.
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