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In Memory of Michael Joseph Whitton
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Posted by editor Fri Apr 28, 2006 18:19:11 PDT
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1 response 0 comments A Rosary will be recited on Tuesday, May 2, at 7 p.m. and a memorial Mass will be celebrated on Wednesday, May 3, at 10 a.m. at the Saint Malachy Catholic Church for Michael Joseph Whitton, 58.

He was healing from a stroke at UCLA and was transferred to the West Los Angeles Veterans Hospital where a rapidly moving cancer took his life on April 19.

Michael was born to Rosemary Frances Rafferty Whitton and Gene Whitton on Sept. 17, 1947 in Bakersfield as the first of four children. He graduated from Garces Memorial High School in June of 1965 and in 1967 took his bulldozer on a cruise to Vietnam where he spent two years, seven months and nine days.

When he came home he wanted to be a sheriff officer, completing the Kern County Reserve academy in June 1972. He worked for 10 years as an unpaid deputy, some months working more hours than the paid officers.

On Valentine’s Day of 1976, Michael married Susan Willard and became the father of a 4-1/2 year old daughter, Noelle.

Michael was employed as chief of security of Stallion Springs, as an extra help deputy and final as a commercial truck driver, starting with Gene Gobel and ending in Nov. 2004 with Wade Trucking after 20 years.

Mike loved the outdoors, especially the tall trees. He was proud of his family and his country.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Rosemary and Gene Whitton; his mother-in-law, Cora Willard; and nephew, Ray Householder.

Michael is survived by his wife of 30 years, Susan; children, Noelle Killingsworth and her husband Greg; Jessica Whitton; and Timothy Eugene Whitton; grandchildren, Tori Paige, Erin Lynn, Ryan Wayne, Daniel Michael, Antonio Joseph, Rheannon Emma; sisters, Jeanny Robbens and her husband Mike; and Mary Ann Householder and her husband James; brother, Patrick; niece, Tanya McDarris and her husband Scott; niece Sarah Knott and daughter Abagail; and many cousins and friends, especially Tony Avila.

Interment will be in the national cemetery at White Wolf on the road to Arvin. In lieu of flowers, donations to funerary expenses would be gratefully accepted.

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