Thomas Allen Whitten Sr.

After a courageous battle with pancreatic cancer, Thomas Allen Whitten Sr., peacefully took the hand of Jesus, and entered his eternal home Thursday, Dec. 17, 2009.

Tom was born on Feb. 23, 1943 at Butler, Mo., the son of Thomas Lee and Dorothy Cleo Zwahlen Whitten. He graduated from Hume High School in 1961. He married Barbara Killian and to this union three children were born, Thomas Jr., Ronald and Tonya. He later married Rosemary Stewart Norbury on Aug. 31, 1987. She preceded him in death on June 8, 2004. He then married Carolyn Shidler Rittinghouse on Nov. 9, 2005.

He was also preceded in death by his father, Thomas Lee and a grandson. Tom was involved with activities at the Hume School and served on the school board for 18 years. He was also on the Walnut Township and Foster Housing Authority.

He is survived by his wife Carolyn of the home, his mother Cleo Whitten of Nevada; children, Thomas Whitten Jr., and Ellen, Ronald Whitten and Jodi, Tonya Gorda, all of Hume, Doug Norbury and Denise of Foster, Mo., Deann Cobbs and Mike of Bush City, Kan., Stephanie Gable and Frank of Houston, Texas, Jennifer Lowe and Darren of Pleasanton, Kan., Patricia Graves of Excelsior Springs, Mo.,, and Moriah Greer and Brandon of Edwardsville, Kan.; a sister Linda Wymoor of Nevada; a niece Tammy Hendren and Chris; 20 seven grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; and a great- niece and nephew.

Visitation will be held from 4 to 6 p.m., Sunday, Dec. 20, at the Hume School. Cremation will follow the visitation. A memorial service will be held 4:30 p.m., Monday, Dec. 21, at the Hume School. The family suggests contributions to the Hume Community Center or Tom Whitten Memorial for Hume School.

Online condolences for the family can be left at www.coffelschneider.com. Arrangements: Coffel-Schneider, Hume, Mo.