By Rebecca Billman
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Harrison P. Warrener, founder of the Cincinnati insurance agency Rust-Warrener Inc., and a former officer for the Union Central Life Insurance Co., died Dec. 16. at the Deupree Community in Hyde Park. He was 85.

Mr. Warrener joined Union Central right after receiving his MBA from Xavier University in 1939. He also held a bachelor's degree from Dartmouth College.

He was the fourth generation of his family to be associated with the company - his grandfather, Bishop D. W. Clark, named the company. Mr. Warrener rose from manager of the benefits division to agency secretary in the sales department to an assistant vice president in 1946.

He retired from Union Central in 1971 and became a partner in Rust-Warrener.

After living in Cincinnati for more than 50 years, Mr. Warrener moved to Chatham, Mass. - where he maintained a home - in 1971. While in Chatham he remained in his partnership with Rust - but spent more time indulging his passion for making fine furniture. He turned a life-long hobby into a vocation, designing and producing hand-made cabinets.

Survivors include his wife, Helene Ryan Warrener; a son, Tim Warrener of Long Valley, N.J.; daughter, Susan Warrener Smith of Columbus; five stepchildren, David C. Stair of Hamden, Conn., Martha Stair Gibson of South Orange, N.J., Bailis B. Stair of New York City, Tony Ryan of Boston and Sprightley Ryan of Williamsburg, Va.; 14 grandchildren; and a great-grandchild.

A memorial service will be March 8 - Mr. Warrener's birthday - at the Church of the Advent, 2366 Kemper Lane, Walnut Hills. Burial will be at Spring Grove Cemetery.

Memorials: Dartmouth College Class of 1939, Hanover, N.H. 03755; Church of the Advent, 2366 Kemper Lane, Cincinnati 45206; or Episcopal Retirement Homes, 3893 Brotherton Road, Cincinnati 45209.

E-mail rbillman@enquirer.com