Warren Lee Dexter, 81, passed away Sept. 24, 2019, at Washington Regional Hospital in Fayetteville, Ark., following a sudden illness.
Warren was born on January 12, 1938 in Grinnell, Iowa, the son of Ralph Lloyd and Inez Marie Dexter. He graduated from Davenport High School in 1957, and on June 15, 1958 he was united in marriage to Sallyann Hendershot in Davenport, Iowa.
He served in The Iowa National Guard Reserves during the Vietnam War. Warren was employed with the University of Iowa serving as greenhouse caretaker and then supervisor for the Botany/Chemistry department for nearly 25 years. Warren was a member of West Branch United Methodist Church and served as a lay leader.
Warren and Sallyann raised their children in West Branch, Iowa, from 1967 through 1989 after which they left West Branch for Eureka Springs, Ark., in 1990 to establish Covenant Gardens, a biblical garden from 1991 to 2007. Warren also served as a pastor at churches in the area and united many couples, some within Covenant Gardens.
Love was Warren’s theme. Warren loved his family and set a good example. He loved plants and telling others about the many roles plants played in the Bible. Warren loved God and served Him. He completed a 20-year journey of writing his book, Christianity’s Simple Concept: LOVE a week before his death.
He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Sallyann, and four children: Dale (G.G.) Dexter of Raleigh, N.C., Susann (Ken) Smith of Fayette, Mo., Tim, (Pat) Dexter of Cave Springs, Ark., Sherylynn (Brian) Davis of Raymore, Mo. He is also survived by eight grandchildren: Leanna (Matthew Cowan), Elizabeth, Abigail, Peter, Ian, Lauren, Matthew and Hannah, and three great grandchildren: Kathryn McBride, Vaida Davis and Annie Boggs.
He is preceded in death by his parents and a granddaughter, Sarah Smith.
Funeral service was held at First Christian Church in Eureka Springs, Ark., on Sept. 28. Burial was at Memorial Park Cemetery, Davenport, Iowa. Donations can be made in Warren’s name to the First Christian Church in Eureka Springs, 763 Passion Play Rd., Eureka Springs, AR 72632.