Jim Warner loved to create, which is likely why his career as an architect suited him so well. He spent more than 40 years in the field, designing structures for corporate clients in Atlanta and beyond.
“He enjoyed the beauty he was able to create,” said Lewis Reynolds, his son-in-law who lives in Marietta. “I believe he also loved the process of creating these structures.”
Mr. Warner’s career choice also allowed him to enjoy a great deal of family time, said his daughter, Madeline Reynolds, also of Marietta.
“He was at the table every night,” she said, her voice filling with emotion. “He was always there for us and that is how he showed us he loved us.”
James E. Warner Jr., of Atlanta, died Saturday of suspected heart failure. He was 88.
A graveside service is planned for 11 a.m. on Wednesday at Arlington Memorial Park. H.M. Patterson & Son, Arlington Chapel, is in charge.
A native of Gantt Quarry, Ala., Mr. Warner volunteered for flight training in the Navy in 1942 and "got his wings" in 1944, Mr. Reynolds said. In 1946, after serving in WWII, he joined the Navy’s Ready Reserve and relocated to Atlanta. In 1949 he earned a degree in architecture from Georgia Tech and started his career.
But he put that young career on hold in 1952 when he volunteered for active duty during the Korean War, not long after he married the former Elizabeth “Betty” Geiger. The couple moved to Quonset Point, R.I., where he was assigned to a utility squadron, his family said. His military service lasted until 1966, when he retired from the reserves with the rank of commander, Mr. Reynolds said.
Mr. Warner worked for an Atlanta architecture firm for several years before branching out on his own. In 1964, he and an associate formed the architectural partnership of Warner & Summers.
“We decided several months before that we would open our own firm,” said Alex Summers, of Atlanta. “We worked together at the firm for 30 years before we sold it to several employees.”
As a business partner, Mr. Warner was dependable and motivated, Mr. Summers said. And the two were able to live an architect’s dream of being self-employed.
“We both wanted to do our own thing and I think most architects hope to do that at some point,” he said. “I think he and I realized we were not lone rangers and we needed each other’s expertise to really make the business work.”
Each man worked with clients, but they divvied up the work based on their individual strengths, which lead to a successful partnership that lasted three decades.
“At least I think we ran a pretty successful shop,” Mr. Summer said.
In addition to his daughter and wife, Mr. Warner is also survived by a second daughter, Leslie Grace, of Marietta; and five grandchildren.
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