Totten Kenneth Warfield, Sr.

b. July 25, 1924 Chicago, Illinois
d. April 30, 2022 Tucson, Arizona

 Totten was born in Chicago, and when he was growing up, the family spent winters in southern Arizona. He and his older brother helped his aunt Katharine 'Kit' Hutchinson, his father's sister, who with her husband Buel was building "The Little Outfit Ranch" school. He fell in love with southern Arizona.

  After graduating from Lake Forest Academy in Illinois, he signed up for World War II five days after his 19th birthday. His service included Combat Intelligence School, Air Crew School, and Surgical Technician School and he was awarded 2 Overseas Service Bars, an American Campaign Medal, a Good Conduct Medal, a World War II Victory Medal, and a European African Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with 3 Bronze Battle Stars - Ardennes, Rhineland, and Central Europe.

  Soon after his return from service, he married Leila Marie Hammel on August 2, 1947, at the Riverside Presbyterian Church in New York. His love for southern Arizona moved them to Tucson in 1947, where they resided in Polo Village, a World War II Veteran Village for married couples, and where Leila co-founded the Polo Village Nursery School and Totten served as the mayor. While attending the University of Arizona pursuing a degree in Business, earning a varsity letter running for the University of Arizona track team , and resurrecting the Alpha Tau Omega fraternity, Totten and Leila opened three Zesto ice cream stores while simultaneously building a family of four children: Totten Kenneth Warfield, Jr.; Thomas Kevin Warfield, Sr.; Susan Marie Warfield and Pamela Ann Warfield.

  His father and grandfathers were involved in the spice, chocolate, and coffee businesses from 1863 to 1988, and Totten wrote that "All of my dad's clothes had taken on the scent of chocolate, spices, and coffee, and if you closed your eyes, you would think you were in the factory."

  He began work at Hughes Aircraft Company in 1955 as a Senior Subcontract Administrator for the Phoenix Missile Program. He was an ardent fan of the Chicago White Sox, University of Arizona athletics, and Studebaker automobiles. He ran three miles a day, and started a Boy Scout Troop.

 Leila and Totten retired in 1982 and traveled the world visiting over 137 countries. They volunteered with the Perimeter Bicycling Association of America for 33 years, as well as 18 years with the Arizona Cancer Center. Totten served as a Scout Master for 15 years, and they were members at St. Mark's Presbyterian Church for over 60 years. Leila and Totten were married for 73 years.

written and edited by Corbin Smith from an obituary on Afterall.com; portrait is from FindAGrave.

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