More detail on this person: Lt. Col. (ret.)
Edgar "Ed" Ray Whitney passed away peacefully at
home in Apollo Beach, Fla. on Feb. 13, 2015. Ed
was 80 years old, born on Nov. 10, 1934 in
Breckenridge, Mich. to Edith and Orin Whitney. He
married Mary M. Tepass on June 18, 1983 in
Oscoda, Mich.
Ed graduated from Breckenridge High School, also
earning an engineering degree from Michigan Tech.
He entered the U.S. Air Force and served 21 years.
While serving the country he received the Vietnam
Campaign Medal, Presidential Unit Citation, Air
Force Expeditionary Medal, Outstanding Unit
Award, Navy Merit Unit Commendation Ribbon and
Vietnam Gallantry Cross. He was a pilot of many
Air Force aircraft and, prior to his retirement,
served as deputy base commander at Wurtsmith
Air Force Base in Oscoda. He also taught
mathematics for Alpena Community College.
He was a lifetime member of American Legion Post
274, Voiture #669, VFW Post 3735 and was also a
member of Moose #1566, D.A.V., Pedro Rescue
Helicopter Assn. Heritage Foundation, U.S.O.,
MOAA and Eagles #4237. He was very generous
with many charitable organizations, especially the
Wounded Warrior Project and the Red Cross.
He enjoyed golf, fishing, snowmobiling (from
Michigan to Alaska), hunting, traveling, playing
cards (especially bridge) and most recently
sailing with his wife, Mary, making several trips
from Michigan to the Bahamas on their 41-foot
Morgan sailboat, The West Wind.
His wonderful sense of humor, with jokes and
limericks, and his incredible zest and love for
life will live on with those who knew him
eternally.
He is survived and loved by his devoted wife,
Mary; his sons, Edgar Jr. and Steven (Barbara)
Whitney; daughter Dana Zzyym; stepchildren David,
Donald (Cindy), Diane and Jon (Donna) Krekorian,
also Diane (Dan) Coldren and Robert Tepass; his
grandchildren, Sean (Catia) and Vanessa Whitney,
Emily (Shane) Teater, Matthew (Brennan), Evan,
Lucas and Ryan Krekorian; three great
grandchildren, Syncere Gonzales and Evelyn and
Eleanor Teater; and Emma, his beloved Westie
service dog.
He is also survived by many sisters-in-law,
Beverly Whitney, Joan Koenig, Lois Bailey, Sharron
Meddaugh, Ruthann Kettlewell, Cheryle Sanderson
and Janet Sanderson; brothers-in-law, Russ Peters,
Larry Curtin, Leroy Sanderson, Jim Ketttlewell,
Bruce Soule, Bill Moore, Tom Wilson, Ray
Meddaugh, David Sanderson; also by many nieces,
nephews, cousins and hundreds of friends from
around the world.
He was preceded in death by his parents; son
David; four sisters, Helen, Lee, Bea and Carole;
two brothers, Frank and Dale Whitney; as well as
brothers-in-law Junior Sanderson, George
Sanderson, Harold Redman and Tom Thompson;
and sisters-in-law Shirley Sensabaugh, Edith
Wilson and Sandy Moore.
The U.S, Air Force Military Honorary Memorial
Ceremony will take place on Friday, March 6 at
12:45 p.m. at Bay Pines National Cemetery, 10,000
Bay Pines Blvd. St. Petersburg, Fla. 33708,
followed by a celebration of his life at the
Whitney residence, 6443 Lake Sunrise Dr. Apollo
Beach, Fla.
A Michigan memorial service by Rev. Lee Rhodes
will take place on Thursday, July 30, at 11 a.m.
at Countryside United Brethren Church, 4762 S. 11
Mile Rd, Breckenridge, with a procession to
Ridgelawn Cemetery in Breckenridge, followed by a
celebration of his life and luncheon at the
church.
The family suggests memorial contributions to the
Wounded Warrior Project in Edgar R. Whitney's
name, in lieu of flowers.
Published in Iosco County News-Herald from Feb.
24 to Mar. 3, 2015
This information was last updated 09/24/2012
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