Warren Edminster

EDITOR’S NOTE: A church community is created when people gather together for the love of God. At the same time, Saint Philip’s is comprised of many people who represent different ages, life experiences, and world views.

The “In conversation…” series is one attempt to create possibilities for connection between the different people in our community. As varied as we all are, there are also similarities and mutual interests waiting to be discovered. And there is one thing we all share: a desire to know God and be in relationship with him.

This week’s conversation is with Saint Philip’s parishioner and volunteer, Warren Edminster.

How long have you worshiped at Saint Philip’s?
I’ve been here since 1962.

Were you raised in a faith tradition?
I was. My mother was a faithful Methodist. I went to Sunday School from when I was a little kid until I left home at 19.

How did you become an Episcopalian?
My first wife, Ingeborg, was a Roman Catholic. The Episcopal Church was a good compromise for us.

What’s kept you at Saint Philip’s so many decades? 
Being involved. I’ve always volunteered and that made me feel that I was a part of this community.

Ingeborg was on the Altar Guild and for awhile I was a lay reader. I was also always an usher.

Over time I became involved with making sure this church’s fantastic campus remained in good operating condition. I was Chairman of the Building & Grounds Committee for 16 years. It helped that I was able to bring my skills as an architect and artist to the role.

What about architecture captured your interest?
I first learned about architecture at the University of Illinois. I heard about a course on the other side of campus where students were thinking about how people live and how they interacted in communal spaces.

Then those same students would come up with ideas and put them on paper. They made presentations and followed the ideas through to construction. I thought all of that was fantastic!

So you signed up and started your journey?
It wasn’t quite that straightforward.

The department didn’t take students mid-year so I pled my case to the Chair of the Architecture School. He said that if I could get 10 other men to transfer to the Architecture Department mid-term, then we could make a special class. I found 15 men!

Was your career as satisfying as you envisioned as a student?
It was. I spent my career in Tucson. I worked for the firm that designed the city hall, the west campus of Pima College, and the University of Arizona’s medical school.

I left that firm in 1977 and opened my own. I designed residences, subdivisions, and acted as an inspector for financial institutions.

You’re also an artist. How did that develop?
As an architecture student I had to illustrate what I conceived—without a computer. To that end, part of the curriculum included completing 10 semesters of art. The classes ranged from hand drawing to sculpture, and included all kinds of media. That was my first introduction to art.

In 1968 I started sending out about 300 Christmas cards each year.

What mediums do you like to work with?
Ink and watercolor. Ink is great for traveling, and watercolor is more expressive.

I traveled a great deal with Ingeborg, as well as with my second wife, Bev. I made a sketch almost every day. That’s the reason I have created so much art.

What do you like to sketch?
I enjoy creating ecclesiastical work. Most of my large pieces reflect that.

Over time I sketched all the missions in the California mission chain—from San Diego to San Francisco.

How far afield did you travel? 
We made three trips to Germany since I spoke the language. We also visited Greece, Turkey, Italy, France, Norway, Denmark, Sweden, Russia, Hawaii, and Japan. We took several trips to Mexico, and went through the Panama Canal.

What’s something you’re proud of?
My kids—two of whom are still alive.

Lorraine graduated from the Parsons School of Design in New York City, and then came back to Tucson. She owns a pilates studio here.

My son, David, was in Japan for two years working on a major project for Disney (where he’s worked for 36 years). He returned recently and now lives in Los Angeles.

What’s something you find challenging?
Right now, my mobility. I also miss Bev. I know we last only so long on this earth and have to accept loss but her death was a huge blow. I was so lucky to find her. We were married for 19 years. (Ingeborg, my first wife, and I were married for 45 years before she died.)

What’s one of your core values?
Honesty is one. Another one is helping people—both in personal and business relationships.

Throughout my career, when I drafted a contract with clients it was important to me that all of us were happy with the agreement. If my clients were happy with the transaction then I was, too.

What’s one of your guiding principles?
The golden rule: do unto others as you would have them do unto you.

What’s something you’re grateful for?
At this stage in my life I’m grateful for the support systems I have. There are so many people who help me in one way or another. I’m truly blessed.

What do you think helped create that support system?
I’ve tried to help other people and be honest and faithful in relationships. I think that has helped.

What’s something you would still like to do?
I would love to get my pilot’s license. I never had the time or money to do it.

Bev gave me a great present about five years ago. We were in San Diego and for my birthday she bought a ride in a biplane made in 1936. It had an open cockpit!

We flew down to Tiajuana and came back through San Diego. It was a lot of fun and a fabulous gift.

What might people be surprised to learn about you?
That I like mechanics as much as I do.

My father was a fantastic mechanic, so from the time I was big enough to pick up tools, I worked with him. When my son, David, was 14, I found the first car to buy for him (a 1956 Mustang). It needed a lot of work, so we worked together to rebuild it. When we finished, we sold it.

That was the first of a chain of cars we rebuilt and sold. The money we made from that got him through college.

What would you like people reading this to know?
That it’s been a joy to work with the other volunteers at Saint Philip’s. I’ve gotten to know great people. Those relationships are one of the highlights for me of my time here.

What’s a fun fact about you?
I’ve lived my life in the desert but I’m a sailor.

Over the years, I owned several catamarans. They provided a great excuse to visit the ocean. My family and I made numerous trips to Mexican beaches.

Missed an interview? All previous interviews can be found on Saint Philip’s website under the “About Us” tab. Click here to visit that page.