Terry Warne

Therese “Terry” Wadsworth Warne peacefully returned home on March 7, 2018.

Terry was born February 11, 1934 in Cagayan, a small town on the coast of Mindanao, the southernmost island in the Philippines.  She was the child of E. Norris Wadsworth and Violet Emiline Fry of Morgan, Utah.  The Wadsworths were sent by Del Monte to the Philippines to help start a pineapple operation. With the Japanese invasion of the Philippines during WWII they were forced to flee from their home and hide for five months in the jungle before surrendering to the Japanese army.  Terry was 8 years old at the time she and her parents became prisoners.  Three years later they were rescued by the U.S. Army. Before and during the three years of captivity Terry and her parents endured military actions, sickness including malaria and typhus without medication, starvation, malnutrition, and other abuses.  Twice they traveled in the holds of “hell Ships” being transported from one prison camp to another.  After their rescue, Terry and her parents attended the first LDS Church meeting held in the Philippines amongst the rubble of the war devastated city of Manila.  Terry wrote of her experiences and published an award-winning book “Terry: The Inspiring Story of a Little Girl’s Survival as a POW During WWII.”

After the war, in California, Terry met and married her childhood friend, Tom Warne, who lived next door to her in the Philippines.  In 1961 while living in Hawaii they were sealed in the Hawaii Laie Temple. They lived in Hawaii 20 years. Their Hawaii years were interrupted by a two year stay in the Philippines as they were involved in starting a pineapple operation for Dole Food Co. After over 20 years in Hawaii, they were transferred to California. In California, Terry was a foster parent working with the Child Protective Services for 22 years.  During that time she cared for over 200 abused, neglected children and drug babies.  She was also involved in scouting for over 50 years and is a Silver Beaver.  After her husband, Tom’s, retirement, they moved from California to Utah and settled in South Jordan.  Terry and her husband served 4 full time missions after moving to Utah, one of which was in the Philippines among the people they love.  While living in Utah, Terry was recognized as a Mother of the Year by Governor Michael Leavitt.

Terry was preceded in death by her parents Norris and Violet Wadsworth, and her brother Richard “Dick” Wadsworth.  She is survived by her husband, Tom, of 67 years; 2 daughters, Carol (Jim), and Sally (Gary); 4 sons, Richard (Jane), Tom (Renae), Bob (Emily), and David (Heather); 27 grandchildren, and 58 great grandchildren.

Terry was a ray of sunshine in the lives of everyone who knew her.  She was dearly loved and is sorely missed by her family and all those who have been fortunate to be her friends.

Funeral services will be held Saturday, March 17, 2018 at 11:00 a.m. at the LDS Chapel in South Jordan at 9750 South, 2200 West.  Family and friends may also attend a viewing from 9:30 – 10:45 a.m. prior to the services.  Interment will be in the North Morgan Cemetery of Morgan, Utah at 4:00 pm.

Condolences may be sent to the family at www.walker-mortuary.com