William Marvin Whitten

William Marvin Whitten of Brookland departed this life Saturday, Dec. 21, 2013, at the Flo & Phil Jones Hospice House in Jonesboro at the age of 92. He was born March 15, 1921, in Monette, the son of Hubert N. Whitten and Mary Hazelwood Whitten. Marvin was a retired row crop and cattle farmer. In his retirement he enjoyed gardening and sharing his produce with friends and neighbors. He was a Gideon, former member of the Brookland School Board and the Craighead County Equalization Boards. He actively attended Cornerstone United Methodist Church and was a member of the Church of the Nazarene where he taught Sunday School for 50 plus years. He was a WW II veteran having served in the U.S. Army Air Corps. He married Virginia Hout on Feb. 28, 1942, and they enjoyed nearly 72 years together.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Hubert N. and Mary Hazelwood Whitten.

He is survived by his wife of 72 years, Virginia Whitten of the home; two sons, Robert "Butch" Whitten and wife Carolyn of Jonesboro and Jerry Whitten and wife Mitzie of Brookland; three sisters, Lorene Anderson of Yuma, Ariz., Velma Hout of Washington, Ill., and Nadine Bollinger of Topeka, Kan.; one brother, Alvis Whitten of Swartz Creek, Mich.; four grandchildren, Robb Whitten of Brookland, Matthew Whitten and wife Paula of Jonesboro, Erica Loftis and husband Corey of Bryant, and Alex Whitten of Little Rock; and two great-grandsons, A.J. Whitten and Aaron Whitten of Cookeville, Tenn.

Funeral services were 10 a.m. Friday, Dec. 27, at the Gregg Langford-Bookout Funeral Home Chapel in Jonesboro with Rev. Chris Hemund officiating.

Pallbearers were Tony Bradley, David Head, Tim Hudson, Tim Murphy, Randy Rupard and Don Wicker. Honorary pallbearers were Mick Boland, Butch Erwin, Dennis Lamberth and Tom Murphy.

Interment with military honors followed in Nettleton Cemetery.

Friends visited at the funeral home from 5-7 p.m. Thursday.

Those wishing to send memorials are asked to consider the Gideons or the Flo & Phil Jones Hospice House.

Personal condolences may be made to the Whitten family at www.mcnabbfuneralhomes.com.