Obituary

W. Warren upton, 82, of charleston, passed away on may 11, 2018 at the arthur b. Hodges center, after a long illness. He was a retired member of the law firm jackson kelly, where he practiced in the areas of litigation, white-collar compliance and defense, and alternative dispute resolution.

Warren earned both a bachelor’s degree in business administration and a law degree from west virginia university. Upon graduating from the college of law in 1962, where he was elected to the order of the coif, he clerked for the honorable john a. Field, jr., then a united states district court judge (who was later appointed to the fourth circuit).

He practiced in the private sector before becoming a united states attorney for the southern district of west virginia. After completing a two-year term, he joined the law firm (known at that time as jackson kelly holt and o’farrell) in 1972.

A native west virginian, warren was tirelessly involved in numerous professional and community activities. Most recently, he served as the first vice chairman of the board of trustees of the thomas memorial hospital association and as a member of the board of the thomas hospital foundation. He also served as a former senior warden of the good shepherd episcopal church and was a member of st. John’s episcopal church, charleston.

Warren was revered as a passionate and dedicated member of the shrine on a local and national level. He served as past potentate of beni kedem shriners in charleston, west virginia. He was a member of the kanawha 20 af&am, the thirty-second degree scottish rite mason ““ valley of charleston, and the york rite bodies of charleston. Warren was a member of the royal order of jesters (past director and impresario), imperial council (emeritus representative); and he served on the grievances and appeals committee (emeritus chairman) as well as the jurisprudence and laws committee (chairman).

Upon his retirement from the full-time practice of law in 2001, warren remained a key advisor to his fellow attorneys at jackson kelly, serving in the highly respected capacity “of counsel”. In this role, warren maintained an active involvement in the firm’s mediation practice and the criminal and health care industry groups. He was listed as one of the best lawyers in america, in the field of criminal defense, and he was a frequent speaker and panel participant before bar and medical groups on the subject of criminal law and health care law.

Within the legal profession, warren was a member of numerous american bar association committees, the federal bar association and the west virginia state bar. He was a member of the kanawha county bar association, a permanent member of the fourth circuit judicial conference, the national association of former united states attorneys and a member of the american board of trial advocates.

He was preceded in death by his wife, frances jones upton.

He is survived by his daughter, mary beth (mark) fell of reigate, england; son, matthew (sue ann) upton of charleston; grandchildren, christopher, catherine and caroline fell, and benjamin and emily upton.

Funeral service will be 11:30 am thursday, may 24, 2018 at st. John’s episcopal church, charleston with the rev. Marquita l. Hutchens, rector officiating. Inurnment will follow in the church columbarium. Visitation will be held from 5 to 7 pm wednesday, may 23, 2018 at barlow bonsall funeral home, charleston

in lieu of flowers ““ donations may be made in memory of warren to the: shriners hospitals for children, attn: office of development, 2900 n. Rocky point drive, tampa, fl 33607 and / or kanawha hospice care, 1606 kanawha blvd w, charleston, wv 25387 or to a charity of your choice.

Condolences may be sent to the family at www.Barlowbonsall.Com .

Barlow bonsall funeral home, charleston has been entrusted with the arrangements.