Devoted Family Man and Children’s Book Author Will Be Sadly Missed
Lancaster, Pa. — Ed Warfel was known among his friends, family and peers as an individual who was passionate about his faith, his family, his profession and flying. Warfel, who was with RETTEW Associates, Inc. for 36 years, passed away on February 12, 2010, after a lengthy illness at the age of 60.
“What I remember most about Ed was his desire to succeed, his smile, and his laugh,” said George W. Rettew, PE, PLS, chairman and CEO, RETTEW. “And what I respect most about Ed are the great and wonderful qualities he demonstrated every day of his life. He had his priorities straight—faith, family, and then business.”
A resident of Leola, Lancaster County, Warfel was a devoted husband and father of eight. He was an active member of Calvary Church, Lancaster, PA, where he participated in the church’s life ministry program and taught Sunday school for many years.
Warfel graduated with honors in 1973 from Paul Smith’s College with an associate of applied science in forestry and surveying. That same year Warfel went to work for J.C. Engineering—which later became RETTEW Associates, Inc. in —Lancaster, PA, and began to further hone his skills as a surveyor. In 1979, he earned licensure as a professional land surveyor (PLS); he was a PLS in Pennsylvania, Maryland and New Jersey.
Warfel, the employee with the second longest tenure ever at RETTEW, served the firm in a variety of capacities. As survey chief, he was instrumental in growing RETTEW’s survey group, one of the largest survey corps in the mid-Atlantic region. He also coached and mentored many surveyors during his 36-year career. Warfel eventually became business development specialist for the firm, focusing primarily on obtaining contracts with governmental agencies. He played a pivotal role in cultivating the firm’s growth and helped the firm win numerous projects from federal agencies, such as the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Warfel was a licensed private pilot and while in the Army served as the Senior GCA Radar Controller at the Grafenwohr Army Airfield, Germany. He was also co-owner of Trekle Productions, Inc., a small video production business that specialized in airborne applications including aerial photography and aerial video. He also enjoyed photography.
Warfel’s love for children and desire to express his creativity led him to also write children’s stories. Suhail Khan, his business partner in Trekle Productions, worked with Warfel to create fictional characters called Trekles.
“Ed was a highly creative man who loved writing children’s stories,” said Khan. “I will miss my business partner and friend.”
In addition to creating a web site, www.trekle.com, which details the origin of the Trekles, Warfel and Khan co-authored a children’s book about the fictional characters. The Quest for the Wisdom Stone: A Tale from the Trekles of the North was published shortly before Warfel’s death.