Floyd Warren Cloninger passed away with his family at his side Thursday, Feb. 26, 2015, at the age of 84. Warren, as he was known, succumbed to complications of lymphoma and a more than 30-year battle with Type 2 diabetes.
Warren was born to Floyd Dorman and Ruth Jane Faucett Cloninger on Jan. 24, 1931, in Anaconda, Mont. He was raised in Anaconda, Missoula, Seattle and Lewiston, graduating from Lewiston High School as a member of the class of 1948. Warren was the first of many family members to attend the University of
Idaho and graduated in 1953 with a degree in business. While at UI, he enrolled as a member of the Army ROTC and married Joy Clemens of Clarkston, whom he met at a Methodist Youth Fellowship meeting.
Following graduation, Warren fulfilled his ROTC commitment and was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army. While in the Army, he was stationed at Fort Riley, Kan., Camp Polk, La., and Fort Benning, Ga. He shared many colorful stories of his time in the service, and especially enjoyed his work being in charge of the motor pool at Fort Benning. After concluding his active duty, he remained a member of the U.S. Army Reserves, retiring as a major after 20 years. A highlight of his years in the Reserves was a summer course he attended at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point in 1973.
After his service in the military, Warren returned to Lewiston, where he constructed the family home in which he lived the rest of his life in the Lewiston Orchards, and built the family bulk fuel oil business. He was the Pennzoil jobber for the Lewiston-Clarkston Valley and surrounding area. He delivered fuel oil and owned and operated several service stations located in the Lewiston Orchards, North Lewiston and Clarkston under the Cloninger Oil Co. name, and sold such brands as Texaco, Conoco, Richfield, UTOCO and Husky over the years.
Warren closed the oil business in 1976 and turned his lifelong hobby as a shooter and handloader into a second career, going to work for the then-Omark Industries as a ballistic technician. He worked up load development and compiled much of the data for the Speer Reloading Manuals. He later worked in tech services, where he dealt directly with CCI/Speer customers and had the opportunity to talk with shooters and reloaders from all over the world. He retired after nearly 25 years at age 70 in early 2001.
He wrote more than 100 articles on reloading that appeared in the Outdoors section of the Lewiston Tribune for a number of years, as well as other publications such as Handloader's Digest. Warren was active in all facets of competitive shooting sports from a young age through his time in the Army and later in civilian life. He was a life member of many shooting organizations, including the Idaho State Skeet Shooting Association and the National Rifle Association. Warren excelled in skeet shooting in particular, winning numerous state titles and awards. At the conclusion of the 1982 skeet season he and his son, Paul, were named to the Idaho State High Over-All Team as two of the five best skeet shooters in the state that year.
Warren shared his home with uncounted dogs and cats during his lifetime, but two of his favorites were his dog, Charlie; and his white cat, Faith.
Warren is survived by his wife, Joy, at the family home in Lewiston; daughter Barbara Owens (John) of Boise; daughter Jean Townsend (Dave) of Roseville, Calif.; and son Paul Warren of Lewiston; cousin Judy Dodgen of Cloud Croft, N.M.; four grandchildren, Megan, Sean, Kellyn, Trevor; and four great-grandchildren, Logan, Cameron, Emerson and Harlow.
He was buried with military honors in a private graveside ceremony. A public memorial service will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday at Malcom's Brower-Wann Funeral Home.
Service Information
- Date & Time
- Saturday, April 4, 1:00 PM
- Location
-
Malcom's Brower-Wann Funeral Home
1711 18th Street
Lewiston, ID 83501
Get Directions
Offer Condolences
Professional Service
✔ Since 1924
✔ Burial or Cremation Services
✔ Pre-Arranged Funeral Plans
✔ Web-Casting
✔ Modern Comfortable Facility
✔ Up-To-Date Audio/Video
Contact Information
1711 18th StreetLewiston, Idaho 83501
P: (208) 743-4578
F: (208) 743-9453
E-mail: malcoms@malcomsfuneralhome.com
The administrative offices are open Monday - Thursday from 8:00 a.m. to 5 p.m. and on Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday are by appointment only.
1711 18th Street