John Warden, 76, and Daphne Warden, 73

From Carmon Community Funeral Homes

John H. Warden, 76, and his beloved wife, Daphne B. (Wallis) Warden, 73, both of Simsbury, CT passed away on June 15, 2015, and June 22, 2015, respectively, each from complications following surgery.

John was born in Pretoria, South Africa to the late Charles and Louise (Malherbe) Warden. Daphne was born in Port Elizabeth, South Africa to the late Henry and Aletta (Proctor) Wallis.

Both were raised in South Africa and completed most of their education there. John received a B. Mus. Degree, and MBA degrees at The University of the Witwatersrand. John attended seminary at Cuddesdon College at Oxford University after which he was ordained as an Anglican priest.

For many years, John served as a priest in the Anglican Church of South Africa, and ultimately as Archdeacon of Pretoria. John also served as Director of the Ecumenical Research Unit at St. John Vianney Seminary in Pretoria, before emigrating to the US where he became a priest within the US Episcopal Church. He was Rector of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Beloit, Wisconsin and later St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania.

Daphne was employed as an executive assistant, notably at St. Mary’s Diocesan School for Girls in Pretoria for many years. After immigrating to the United States, she worked for Beloit College in the Residential Life Department and was beloved by students, faculty and staff. Later she joined HGSI in Maryland where she was an executive assistant and later department coordinator.

After retiring and moving to Simsbury, Daphne worked at The Second Chance Shop whose proceeds went to support The Village for Families and Children in West Hartford, an agency and community that provides homes and assistance to neglected children. Daphne was an active leader and choir member in every congregation they joined. A gifted pianist who competed in her youth, she played the piano all her life. In retirement she’d routinely gather with friends for coffee and puzzles.

Together, they are survived by their son Charles Warden and his wife Christine of Hillsborough, CA; daughter Philippa Mylander and her husband Thomas of Simsbury; John’s sister Elizabeth Belderson of the UK, and Daphne’s brother and sisters Rae Wallis, Keith Wallis, and Audrey Wilson; and four grandchildren. Besides their parents, they were predeceased by John’s twin brother Charles Warden, his brother Peter Warden, and his sister Reinette Carlisle.

A joint memorial service will be held on Monday, July 20, 2015, at 3:00 PM at Trinity Episcopal Church, 11 Church Street, Tariffville, CT. Contributions in their memory may be made to The Village in West Hartford http://thevillage.org/give/give-now/. Carmon Funeral Home & Family Center of Avon is caring for the arrangements.