White Sulphur Springs-Robert Beard “Bob” Whiting passed away peacefully on Friday, Aug. 3, 2018, at the age of 92.
Bob was born on Aug. 17, 1925, at Maxwelton to Thomas G. and Essie F. (Beard) Whiting.
He was a lifelong resident of Greenbrier County, a place he was always proud to call home. After graduating from Renick High School in 1943, he served in The Marine Corps in the Pacific Theater in World War II. He was a member of the U.S. invasion force on Iwo Jima and the occupation force on mainland Japan. He received a Purple Heart for his service there. After the war, he returned home to start his working life, both as a farmer and an auctioneer. He later served as Riding Master at The Greenbrier Hotel for 26 years, retiring in 1988.
Bob married Betty Robin Callison in 1947, and they resided in White Sulphur Springs from 1963 until her death in 2009. Bob has two sons; Richard Mark Whiting of Saint Louis, MO, and Robert Thomas Whiting of Charlotte, NC. His daughter-in-law is Jeanne (Kidd) Whiting, wife of Richard. He has two grandchildren from Richard’s family, Mark Whiting and Jennifer Whiting Drury (Lawrence Drury). He also has two great-grandchildren, Tripp Drury and Aurora Drury, the children of Jennifer and Lawrence. Thomas Whiting’s longtime girlfriend, Yvonne Bean; Yvonne’s daughter, Sara Bergstrom; and Yvonne’s grandson, Austin, were all very close to Mr. Whiting.
Bob is also survived by numerous cousins, nieces and nephews, living in Greenbrier County and points beyond.
Bob was a member of Emmanuel United Methodist Church in White Sulphur Springs, where he served in various leadership roles over the years.
Bob was a humble and happy man, who never met a stranger. He was extremely proud of his family, his friendships and his country. The memories of Bob Whiting and his legacy will continue to be cherished by all who knew and loved him.
Funeral services were held Wednesday, Aug. 8, at Wallace & Wallace Funeral Home in White Sulphur Springs, where Pastors Brent Sturm and Charles Feury officiated. Burial with military honors followed at Greenbrier Memorial gardens in Lewisburg.
The family received friends Tuesday evening, Aug. 7, at the funeral home in White Sulphur Springs.
Please send online condolences by visiting www.WallaceandWallaceFH.com.
