Roll Call Tribute

Charles E. Warlick, Jr.
October 9, 1940 - July 30, 2020

Dr. Charles “Charlie” Edgar Warlick, Jr. passed away peacefully, surrounded by his wife, children and grandchildren, at his home in Wimberley, TX on July 30, 2020.

Charlie was born on October, 9, 1940 in Dallas, TX to the late Charles E. Warlick, Sr. and Mary Jane Adams Warlick. His childhood was spent hunting and fishing in what were once the open spaces and rolling creeks of North Dallas. His family was active in Oak Lawn United Methodist Church, and Charlie was proud to sing in the choir, partial to the powerful message of “How Great Thou Art”. He attended North Dallas public schools as both his parents had before him, graduating from North Dallas HS in 1958.

A passion for engineering ran on both sides of the family, and from an early age Charlie took a shine to tinkering. He loved to work with his hands, marveling at the craftsmanship that made things work or made things beautiful. Charlie saw the spirit of the Creator in the intricate mechanisms of objects from jewelry to antique cars, and was simply grateful to be an instrument of attention to His works.

Charlie’s love for the sciences led him to pursue a career in dentistry, a career that instantly proved a perfect fit for his devotion to detail and his gentle, soothing nature. He graduated from Texas A&M University and went on to Baylor Dental College in Dallas, driving big rigs during dental school to pay for tuition.

One evening at a fraternity party, Charlie chanced to find the love of his life, Mary Corene Wallace of Kingsville, TX. The moment he laid eyes on her, the story goes, he remarked to a buddy, “There’s my wife.” And so she was. The two married soon after, on July 30, 1966, in Kingsville.

The newly titled Dr. Warlick joined the US Air Force in 1967 to practice dentistry and travel the world. He and Corene got as far as Burns Flat, OK, where Charlie served for two years. After having their son, the couple moved back to Dallas where Charlie set up his first private practice in 1969. His enthusiasm for health was not confined to the dental realm; Charlie was committed to the overall well-being of his patients as individuals and members of the community. He was passionate about nutrition, even taking over a local health food store, the Health Nut, with Corene in Dallas in the early 1970s.

After attending a wedding in Wimberley in 1978, Charlie and Corene decided it was the perfect spot to raise their growing family. Charlie set up his dental practice in Wimberley in 1979 and quickly became a fixture in the community, as much for his 1967 Volkswagen Beetle as for his role as a dentist and civil servant. Charles lead the cause and was instrumental in establishing the Wimberley Independent School District as well as serving on the first WISD school board. He was active in the local Lions Club and was deeply involved in his faith community. Charlie’s passion for service led him to join regular missionary dentistry trips to Mexico and Chicago. He retired from dentistry in 2017, and was honored that year with the 50-Year Award from the Texas Dental Association.

Dr. Warlick's warmth and sincere care for each and every one of his patients over the years was so genuine and true. He loved his patients dearly and strove to accommodate people from all walks of life in his affable and attentive way. His passion for learning and applying the most innovative tools and techniques in his field drove him to constantly challenge himself and expand his clientele. Neighbors young and old trusted their smiles to Doc Warlick, and couldn’t help but smile in his presence.

For years, the lighthearted slogan for Charlie’s practice was “We Cater to Cowards”, but Charlie Warlick never once judged or belittled another human in his life. He felt a deep empathy and love for humanity, for his family and for his community. He wanted to help his patients to feel seen and heard, at ease, confident. He just wanted to make them smile.

Charlie is preceded in death by his parents and his sister, Patricia Jane Alexander. He is survived by his cherished and dear wife Corene, as well as by their three children: Charles “Chuck” E. Warlick III and daughter-in-law Laura Price Warlick of Wimberley, TX and their children Charlie, Spencer and Madison; Mary Cassandra “Cassie” Lehman and son-in-law Michael Anthony Lehman of Kyle, TX and their children Michaela and Tenley; and Candace Leigh Rothelle and son-in-law Willis Asa Rothelle of Wimberley, TX and their children Asa and Ave. He is also survived by his brother Philip Owen Warlick of Washington state.

We are so grateful for every moment we got to spend with our Father, Grandfather, Husband, and friend Dr. Charles Edgar Warlick Jr. and so honored by all the people in our community whose lives he touched. The family would like to sincerely thank the team from Alamo Hospice who guided us through Charlie’s last days in his battle with Parkinson’s. His exit from this life was gentle and poetic, passing as he did on his and Corene’s 54th wedding anniversary.

A celebration of Charlie Warlick’s life is tentatively planned for what would have been his 80th birthday, October 9, 2020, at his Wimberley home. It’s a challenging time to make plans, but one thing you can count on is seeing that familiar green VW Beetle.

© Thomason Funeral Home