Dean Boyd Wilhite, 81, of Idaho Falls, passed away Thursday, Oct. 23, 2014, at Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center. He was under the care of Hospice of Eastern Idaho.
He was born Nov. 1, 1932, to Roy C. and Dana Wilhite in Idaho Falls. He was raised in Idaho Falls and attended Idaho Falls High School.
In 1949, he joined the Army National Guard and served in Korea with the 116th Engineering Division.
On Feb. 7, 1953, he married Joan Rose Keller in Idaho Falls. Seven children were born to this union: Jeffrey, Dana, Matthew, Rita, Paula, Anna and Lisa. They later divorced.
On May 14, 1971, he married Karen Babbitt Sommers. Her three children, Corby, Heidi and Tim, joined the family.
He was a member of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 449 and recently received his 60 year service pin. He was proud of the brotherhood and truly loved the comradery of Local 449, where he was affectionately known as Dean-O. He was a regular at the annual hog roast until the past few years. He was a member of the Idaho Falls Eagles Lodge no. 576.
He lived several years on the coast in Hammond, Ore., which were some of his happiest times. He spent many days on his boat fishing for salmon, sturgeon and throwing out crab nets. He also enjoyed hunting, gardening and tending his fruit trees.
He is survived by his sons, Jeffrey Wilhite and Matthew Wilhite, both of Idaho Falls; daughters, Dana Wilhite, Rita (Doug) Dempsey and Paula Adkins, all of Idaho Falls, Anna (Robert) Lugar of Rigby and Lisa (Kirk) Copeland of Boise; stepchildren, Corby (Thomas) Bennett of Boise, Heidi (Buck) Barber of Ammon and Tim (Laura) Sommers of Idaho Falls; 21 grandchildren; 21 great-grandchildren; and sisters, Margaret Bickmore and Bobbie Nielsen.
He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Karen; brother, Richard Wilhite; and an infant sister.
Services will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 5, at Holy Rosary Church on the corner of Ninth Street and Lee Avenue. A rosary will be held at 6 p.m. Tuesday at Coltrin Mortuary, 2100 First St. The family will visit with friends until 8 p.m. Tuesday following the rosary. Burial will be in Ammon Cemetery. A celebration of life will be at 5 p.m. Wednesday at the Eagles Lodge, 635 Hemmert St.
The family would like to thank Hospice of Eastern Idaho and a special thanks to Dr. Scott Taylor.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.coltrinmortuary.com.
Published in Post Register Nov. 2, 2014
Dean Boyd Wilhite, 81, of Idaho Falls, passed away Thursday, Oct. 23, 2014, at Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center. He was under the care of Hospice of Eastern Idaho.
He was born Nov. 1, 1932, to Roy C. and Dana Wilhite in Idaho Falls. He was raised in Idaho Falls and attended Idaho Falls High School.
In 1949, he joined the Army National Guard and served in Korea with the 116th Engineering Division.
On Feb. 7, 1953, he married Joan Rose Keller in Idaho Falls. Seven children were born to this union: Jeffrey, Dana, Matthew, Rita, Paula, Anna and Lisa. They later divorced.
On May 14, 1971, he married Karen Babbitt Sommers. Her three children, Corby, Heidi and Tim, joined the family.
He was a member of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 449 and recently received his 60 year service pin. He was proud of the brotherhood and truly loved the comradery of Local 449, where he was affectionately known as Dean-O. He was a regular at the annual hog roast until the past few years. He was a member of the Idaho Falls Eagles Lodge no. 576.
He lived several years on the coast in Hammond, Ore., which were some of his happiest times. He spent many days on his boat fishing for salmon, sturgeon and throwing out crab nets. He also enjoyed hunting, gardening and tending his fruit trees.
He is survived by his sons, Jeffrey Wilhite and Matthew Wilhite, both of Idaho Falls; daughters, Dana Wilhite, Rita (Doug) Dempsey and Paula Adkins, all of Idaho Falls, Anna (Robert) Lugar of Rigby and Lisa (Kirk) Copeland of Boise; stepchildren, Corby (Thomas) Bennett of Boise, Heidi (Buck) Barber of Ammon and Tim (Laura) Sommers of Idaho Falls; 21 grandchildren; 21 great-grandchildren; and sisters, Margaret Bickmore and Bobbie Nielsen.
He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Karen; brother, Richard Wilhite; and an infant sister.
Services will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 5, at Holy Rosary Church on the corner of Ninth Street and Lee Avenue. A rosary will be held at 6 p.m. Tuesday at Coltrin Mortuary, 2100 First St. The family will visit with friends until 8 p.m. Tuesday following the rosary. Burial will be in Ammon Cemetery. A celebration of life will be at 5 p.m. Wednesday at the Eagles Lodge, 635 Hemmert St.
The family would like to thank Hospice of Eastern Idaho and a special thanks to Dr. Scott Taylor.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.coltrinmortuary.com.
Published in Post Register Nov. 2, 2014
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