Warren F Tischler, 83, passed quietly to the Lord on September 20th.  He was preceded in death by his wife of 56 years, Jean Billings Tischler, and a son, David Tischler.     Formerly of R.D.1 Sunbury, PA, Warren had been living for the past year with his daughter Debra Gilbert and her family in Bloomsburg.    He was born March 4, 1921, in Avoca, a son of the late Claude and Edith Tischler.    Warren graduated from Wyoming Seminary in 1938 where he won the National Prep School Wrestling Championship. He then went on to wrestle for the University of Pennsylvania where he graduated from the Wharton School of Business in 1942 with his degree in Economics. He was the captain of the wrestling team and led his team to an undefeated season. Warren wrestled for the legendary Coach W. Austin Bishop and Dr. Raymond Spark. He was a member of the Phi Beta Kappa Fraternity.       He served in WWII as an officer in the United States Army Signal Corps. Following his years in the service, he was a successful entrepreneur in the restaurant and hotel industry having owned businesses in Rising Sun, Maryland and Binghamton, New York.    In 1959, he followed his passion for wrestling and moved to Sunbury to start Resilite Sports Products, Inc.  As president and founder of Resilite, he developed the vinyl coated wrestling mat. This new type of mat was safer and lighter. Warren's contributions to the safety of wrestling helped expand the sport of wrestling throughout the United States. Warren was known as a "pioneer" in the sport of amateur wrestling and the "father" of the modern day wrestling mat.     In 1994, he received the National Order of Merit, one of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame's highest honors. He was also inducted in the Pennsylvania Wrestling Hall of Fame.     He will be remembered as a compassionate, hard working, and generous person. He was deeply loved and respected by his family and friends. He was a member of the First Presbyterian Church, Sunbury.     Warren is survived by a brother Merle Tischler of Boalsburg, PA and a sister, June Simpson of Clarks Summit, PA. In addition he is survived by his daughters, Susan T. Adler of Coral Springs, FL, Nancy T. Lynch of Bellingham, WA, Debra T Gilbert, Bloomsburg, PA, and his son Jonathan W. Tischler of Gouldsboro, PA. He is survived by eleven  grandchildren; Tricia Socash, Jessica Lynch, Erin Lynch, Jeanne Lynch Eriksen, Cate Lynch, Jennifer Gilbert, Matthew Gilbert, Jacob Tischler, Jordan Tischler, Emma Tischler and Jenna Tischler and three great-grandchildren, Elijah, Noah and Ezekiel Socash.      Visitors can come and greet the family from 12-2 pm on Friday for a viewing at the First Presbyterian Church, Market Street, in Sunbury. A memorial service will follow at 2 pm. Conducted by the Rev. David Wiley. Immediately following the church service a short graveside service will be held in the Orchard Hills Cemetery, in Shamokin Dam.    In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to the First Presbyterian Church, Market Street, Sunbury, PA or the Warren and Jean Wrestling Scholarship Fund established through the Degenstein Foundation 43 S. Fifth Street Sunbury, PA 17801.      The David T. Zweier Funeral Home, Inc., 157 Chestnut St., Sunbury will provide funeral arrangements.