By Staff
June 28, 2009
Funeral for Rev. John Tolan Whitten, of Oneonta (formerly of Morgan County), was Wed-nesday, July 1, at 10:30 a.m. at Forrest Chapel United Methodist Church with the Revs. Vandon Windsor, Dorsey Walker and Bert Goodwin officiating and Peck Funeral Home directing.
Burial was in the adjoining cemetery.
Rev. Whitten died Sunday, June 28, 2009. He was born February 10, 1927, in Morgan County to Mose Grady Whitten and Beulah Irene Crowe Whitten. He was educated in Morgan County schools, attended Gupton-Jones College of Mortuary Science, Athens College and Emory-Candler School of Theology. He entered the ministry from Hartselle First United Methodist Church in 1958. His appointments included Neel Charge, Tanner UMC, Courtland, Walnut Grove/Ebeneezer, Walnut Grove/Altoona, Section/Dutton, Valley Head/White Hall, Alabama City, Randall’s Chapel, Propst Memorial UMC and West AL Cooperative Ministries-WACOM. Prior to entering the ministry he served in the U.S. Army from 1945 to 1947. He worked for 12 years at Peck Funeral Home. During his ministry he served 22 years as Camp Counselor and Director of Jr. High and Elementary Camping at Camp Sumatanga, five years on the Governor’s Advisory Board for Volunteers in Alabama and eight years as a boardmember for C.A.S.A. He was a member of many civic organizations. He was preceded in death by a daughter by marriage, Diane Hosey.
He is survived by his wife, Sara Frances Whitten of Oneonta; two sons, Ricky Joe Whitten and wife Betty of Sylacauga and Michael Whitten and wife Dixie of Tuscaloosa; a son by marriage, Michael Shufflebarger and wife Myra of Carrollton; a son-in-law by marriage, Randall Hosey of Pinson; two sisters, Helen Jose of Waterford, Mich. and Lazelle Ferris and husband Richard of Edison, N.J.; eight grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; and a host of nieces and nephews.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be made to Camp Sumatanga, 3616 Sumatanga Road, Gallant, AL 35972.