Elijah Eugene “Gene” Warren, 87, died April 11 in Clearwater, Fla., following a brief illness.A McMinnville native and a graduate of Central High School in 1943, he joined the U.S. Army shortly after school and served his country in World War II from the invasion of Europe to the occupation of Germany.After returning from military service, he relocated to Detroit, Mich., where he joined the city’s police department, retiring as detective in 1976. For the past 35 years he spent his retirement playing golf, enjoying family and always keeping close contact with friends and relatives in Tennessee.He is survived by his wife of over 60 years Beaulah “Bea” and three children, Patricia and Kirk of Clearwater, and Keith of Roseland, Kan.; brother, Lowell Warren of Lawrenceburg and Faye Warren Martin of Murfreesboro. He was preceded in death by his eldest son Mark; his parents Oliver and Bernice Watson Warren; and brother, Price.Information courtesy of High Funeral Home.Southern Standard (McMinnville, Tenn.) June 12, 2011