Claude Alan Warnick of Lincoln passed away peacefully on Saturday, June 26, 2026, at Kent General Hospital in Dover after valiantly fighting a long illness. Claude was 79.
Born August 31, 1946, in Milford, Claude was the third son of the late Archie and Evelyn Warnick. He grew up in Greenwood and attended Greenwood schools. His family were members of Tressler Mennonite Church and his uncle Dwight Warnick along with his aunt, Dwight’s sister, Leota Warnick, charter members of the church.
Claude was dedicated and hard-working. As a youth, he worked on his uncle’s farm in Greenwood along with his three brothers and in his father’s garage where he learned how to fix cars. As a young man, he worked at various jobs, apprenticed as an electrical lineman and became a first-class electrical lineman with C.W. Wright Construction Company. He then went on to work with the City of Dover Electric Department, retiring after 20 years.
When he wasn’t working, Claude loved to fish and go duck hunting. He was also a Civil War enthusiast and enjoyed being a Civil War reenactor. He belonged to the 2nd Delaware Reenactor Brigade and the 13th Virginia Brigade, traveling to many Civil War battlefields. If you knew Claude, you definitely heard about the Civil War.
Claude was a lifetime member of the Kent County Theatre Guild, and it brought him great joy and happiness. He worked the lights for the shows as well as helping on multiple projects for the Playhouse. He even occasionally was an extra in the plays. He often recounted funny stories about the Playhouse, and he loved to attend the after parties with all the theatre people.
Claude was a quiet man and was known for his quick wit and dry one-liner jokes. He was very kind and would help anyone. He and his wife enjoyed square dancing and clogging at local fairs as well as watching the Philadelphia Eagles. Claude was a wonderful father to his three stepdaughters, raising and loving them as his own. His love for them was greatly returned. He will be dearly missed by his family and forever remembered by all who knew him. Even though he is gone, he will be in their hearts and minds forever.
In addition to his parents, Claude was preceded in death by his stepdaughter, Debbie Byers (John); his brother Nolan Warnick; sister-in-law, Ann Warnick; and nephew Garth Warnick.
He leaves behind his loving wife of 51 years, Julie Warnick; his two stepdaughters, Tonieanne Lord (Stevan); Cathy Wolfe (Ken); four grandchildren, Sheana Lord, Ryan Wolfe, Megan Wolfe and Scott Haymond (Alana); two brothers, Richard Warnick, Randall Warnick (Janie) as well as his nieces and nephews.
A memorial service will be held at 2 PM, Saturday June 27 at Lofland Funeral Home, 102 Lakeview Avenue, Milford. Letters of condolence can be submitted online.
