Robert E. Whitten's Obituary
Born June 2, 1926 to parents R. E. L. (Lee) Whitten, Sr. and Catherine Peterman Whitten, both of whom predeceased him. He is also predeceased by his wife of 62 years, Mary Ann (Bonnie) Whitten and his sister, Joida Whitten. Bob died peacefully on April 7, 2016 after a courageous battle with Alzheimers’. He is survived by daughter Cathy Whitten, of Dallas; daughter Carol Whitten & husband Tom Chandler and granddaughter Lenore Whitten-Chandler, all of Portland, Oregon; several cousins and dear friends, including the loving staff at Villages of Lake Highlands and Compassionate Care Hospice. Bob was born in St. Louis, Missouri. His dad’s job at Shell Oil took the family to many different homes across the U.S. as Bob and his sister Jo grew up, each always the other’s best friend. The family finally landed in Dallas, where Bob graduated Sunset High School in 1944. Days later on his 18th birthday, Bob enlisted in the U. S. Marine Corps and proudly served his country in World War II in China and Japan. As a machine-gunner/sharpshooter, he saved the lives of his platoon during the harsh battles in Okinawa and received the Purple Heart. After being honorably discharged from the Marine Corps in 1946, Bob returned to Dallas and prepared to enter Texas A&M University. He graduated in 1951 with a degree in mechanical engineering and became an Aggie for life. Specializing also in electronics, Bob’s next move took him to work for General Electric in Schenectady, New York. On April 19, 1952, Bob married his college sweetheart Bonnie. After a honeymoon in Niagara Falls, they made their first home in New York. Both were happy to later return to Dallas so that Bob could go into business partnership with his dad as manufacturers’ agents, forming the R.E. L. Whitten Co., Inc. In 1966, Bob joined Telsco Industries as a mechanical/electrical engineer designing WeatherMatic sprinkler systems. He was the key designer for every controller Telsco manufactured from the late 1960s until his retirement in 1991. Bob loved his family and friends, model railroading, woodworking and being involved with neighbors in his University Terrace VIP group. Bob enjoyed problem-solving and creating things and was always happy to be “the go-to guy” when someone needed a hand. Bob will be remembered for his sense of humor, his strength of character, his integrity, his perfectionism and his can-do attitude. Bob lived well and loved well, and his memory will be cherished by all whose lives he touched. Memorial service to be held at The Wildwood Chapel at Restland Funeral Home in Dallas on Saturday, May 21, 2016 at 12:30 p.m. Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Restland Funeral Home and Memorial Park, 13005 Greenville Avenue, Dallas, TX 75243. In lieu of flowers, Bob would appreciate donations to the Alzheimer’s Assn., American Heart Assn., or any organization benefitting our military veterans.
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