Cynthia Ruth Warren, age 56, passed away unexpectedly Thursday, Feb. 19, 2009, at the Johnston Memorial Hospital.

She was born on Aug. 12, 1952, at Kings Mountain Hospital in Bristol, Va., to Albert “Johnny” and Ruth Leonard Warren. Cynthia graduated from John S. Battle High School class of 1970. She was also a graduate of Radford College in 1973 and had received her Masters in Special Education from the University of Virginia in 1977. At the present time she was a well known and respected teacher at Abingdon High School. Her teaching career had spanned over 35 years in which time she had taught in the Richmond, Va., Bristol, Va., and Valdosta, Ga., areas. Cynthia was an active member of Christ the King Catholic where she had served as chair person of Pastorial Council for the past two years. She was also co-chair of Special Education at Abingdon High School.

She is survived by her loving husband and soul mate of 27 years, Robert Preston Warren, Jr. of Abingdon, Va.; sons, Joshua Cody Warren of Dallas, Texas, and Jonathan Preston Warren of New Orleans, La.; stepdaughter, Andrea Warren of Lake Worth Beach, Fla.; parents, Albert “Johnny” Warren and Ruth Leonard Warren of the Wyndale Community of Abingdon, Va.; step-grandchildren, Shane and Scarlett; sisters, Judy Tharpe and husband, Steve of Bristol, Va.; Susan Barr and husband, Randy of Glade Spring, Va.; brother, Jeff Warren and wife, Ava of Glade Spring, Va.; sisters-in-law, DeAnne Retherford and husband, Mike of Wellborn, Fla.; Bernadette Kloth and husband, Dennis of Lake Mary, Florida; brother-in-law, Steve Warren and wife, Jeannie of Vero Beach, Fla.; several nieces and nephews, Heather, Sherri, Matthew, Steven, Rocky, Cable, as well as several nieces and nephews in Florida; special great “grand” niece, Annie (“Chocoholic”) and great “grand” nephew, Noah and other great nephews and nieces; one of her many great friends and “adopted” sister, Winfrey Hendley of Valdosta, Ga.; aunts, Maxie Gay Childers, Bessie Warren and Jean Warren; many loved cousins.

A Funeral Mass for Cynthia Ruth Warren will be conducted at 6 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 22, 2009, at Christ the King Catholic Church in Abingdon with Father Paul Maier and the Rev. Amy Bartee officiating. Interment services will be conducted at 11 a.m. Monday, Feb. 23, 2009, in the Forest Hills Memory Gardens. Active pallbearers will be Larry Houston, Jim Baldwin, Nicky Zuber, Jose Rodriguez, Leon Alder, Marty Swan, Eric Hale, Mike Warren. The family will receive friends this evening, Feb. 21, 2009, from 4 – 7 p.m. at the Abingdon High School Auditorium.

Flowers will be accepted or memorials may be made to the Abingdon High School Special Education Department c/o Michele Lilly, 705 Thompson Drive, Abingdon, Va.,. 24210 in memory of Cynthia Ruth Warren.

Online condolences may be submitted to the family at www.frostfuneralhome.com— Frost Funeral Home, Abingdon, Va.