James Robert Whitson, 93, was born near Rushville, Illinois, the son of Guy Francis and Myrtle Haley Whitson. He married Genevieve Vass on Aug. 28, 1943 in New York City. She survives.
He is also survived by their three children, Roxanne (John) Frey, Valerie Johnson and Michael (Bonnie) Whitson; five grandchildren; three step-grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; five brothers, Lyle Whitson, John Whitson, William Whitson, Walter Whitson and David Whitson and four sisters, Margaret Marshall, Zelma Peter, Nora Howell and Ann Brandt.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his sister, Sarah Kipping; his son-in-law, David Johnson; three brothers-in-law and one sister-in-law.
Robert graduated from Carthage High School in 1938 and served in the U.S. Navy from 1940 to 1948. He graduated from Great Lakes Navy Training Center and was assigned to the USS Milwaukee and then to the USS Herndon.
While serving aboard the USS Herndon, he took part in the invasions of Sicily, Normandy and Southern France. He ended his Navy career with nearly three years of shore duty as an instructor at the San Diego Navy Training Center.
After separating from the service, Robert and his family moved back to Illinois where he farmed for several years in Durham Township, Hancock County.
He also worked at Champion Spark Plug and General Electric in Burlington, Iowa, and then at Bower Roller Bearing in Macomb, before becoming a professional insurance agent.
After retiring from the insurance industry, he worked at Target and Farm King.
He was a member of the Colusa United Methodist Church for over 50 years where he was a Sunday school teacher and finance chairman but transferred to Faith United Methodist Church when he moved to Champaign.
Published in the Champaign, Illinois News-Gazette. Feb 1, 2015
He is also survived by their three children, Roxanne (John) Frey, Valerie Johnson and Michael (Bonnie) Whitson; five grandchildren; three step-grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; five brothers, Lyle Whitson, John Whitson, William Whitson, Walter Whitson and David Whitson and four sisters, Margaret Marshall, Zelma Peter, Nora Howell and Ann Brandt.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his sister, Sarah Kipping; his son-in-law, David Johnson; three brothers-in-law and one sister-in-law.
Robert graduated from Carthage High School in 1938 and served in the U.S. Navy from 1940 to 1948. He graduated from Great Lakes Navy Training Center and was assigned to the USS Milwaukee and then to the USS Herndon.
While serving aboard the USS Herndon, he took part in the invasions of Sicily, Normandy and Southern France. He ended his Navy career with nearly three years of shore duty as an instructor at the San Diego Navy Training Center.
After separating from the service, Robert and his family moved back to Illinois where he farmed for several years in Durham Township, Hancock County.
He also worked at Champion Spark Plug and General Electric in Burlington, Iowa, and then at Bower Roller Bearing in Macomb, before becoming a professional insurance agent.
After retiring from the insurance industry, he worked at Target and Farm King.
He was a member of the Colusa United Methodist Church for over 50 years where he was a Sunday school teacher and finance chairman but transferred to Faith United Methodist Church when he moved to Champaign.
Published in the Champaign, Illinois News-Gazette. Feb 1, 2015
James Robert Whitson, 93, was born near Rushville, Illinois, the son of Guy Francis and Myrtle Haley Whitson. He married Genevieve Vass on Aug. 28, 1943 in New York City. She survives.
He is also survived by their three children, Roxanne (John) Frey, Valerie Johnson and Michael (Bonnie) Whitson; five grandchildren; three step-grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; five brothers, Lyle Whitson, John Whitson, William Whitson, Walter Whitson and David Whitson and four sisters, Margaret Marshall, Zelma Peter, Nora Howell and Ann Brandt.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his sister, Sarah Kipping; his son-in-law, David Johnson; three brothers-in-law and one sister-in-law.
Robert graduated from Carthage High School in 1938 and served in the U.S. Navy from 1940 to 1948. He graduated from Great Lakes Navy Training Center and was assigned to the USS Milwaukee and then to the USS Herndon.
While serving aboard the USS Herndon, he took part in the invasions of Sicily, Normandy and Southern France. He ended his Navy career with nearly three years of shore duty as an instructor at the San Diego Navy Training Center.
After separating from the service, Robert and his family moved back to Illinois where he farmed for several years in Durham Township, Hancock County.
He also worked at Champion Spark Plug and General Electric in Burlington, Iowa, and then at Bower Roller Bearing in Macomb, before becoming a professional insurance agent.
After retiring from the insurance industry, he worked at Target and Farm King.
He was a member of the Colusa United Methodist Church for over 50 years where he was a Sunday school teacher and finance chairman but transferred to Faith United Methodist Church when he moved to Champaign.
Published in the Champaign, Illinois News-Gazette. Feb 1, 2015
He is also survived by their three children, Roxanne (John) Frey, Valerie Johnson and Michael (Bonnie) Whitson; five grandchildren; three step-grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; five brothers, Lyle Whitson, John Whitson, William Whitson, Walter Whitson and David Whitson and four sisters, Margaret Marshall, Zelma Peter, Nora Howell and Ann Brandt.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his sister, Sarah Kipping; his son-in-law, David Johnson; three brothers-in-law and one sister-in-law.
Robert graduated from Carthage High School in 1938 and served in the U.S. Navy from 1940 to 1948. He graduated from Great Lakes Navy Training Center and was assigned to the USS Milwaukee and then to the USS Herndon.
While serving aboard the USS Herndon, he took part in the invasions of Sicily, Normandy and Southern France. He ended his Navy career with nearly three years of shore duty as an instructor at the San Diego Navy Training Center.
After separating from the service, Robert and his family moved back to Illinois where he farmed for several years in Durham Township, Hancock County.
He also worked at Champion Spark Plug and General Electric in Burlington, Iowa, and then at Bower Roller Bearing in Macomb, before becoming a professional insurance agent.
After retiring from the insurance industry, he worked at Target and Farm King.
He was a member of the Colusa United Methodist Church for over 50 years where he was a Sunday school teacher and finance chairman but transferred to Faith United Methodist Church when he moved to Champaign.
Published in the Champaign, Illinois News-Gazette. Feb 1, 2015
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