Gilbert Whitney of Ann Arbor, born March 7th 1929 to Marguerite and Horace Whitney, arrived with a snow storm that required his parents to get their car towed by a horse team to the nearest plowed road in order to get to the hospital. He was brought home to the Webster Township farm where he gracefully finished his life on March 26th, 2018.
For most of Gil’s life he worked on the farm, first with his father, later with his children, and in the final years, though he had given up the physical side of the work, as a highly interested partner with his granddaughter and her husband.
He took two extended breaks from life on the farm. He attended Michigan State University where he obtained a degree in Agriculture, graduating with honors in 1950. During this time he would hitchhike home on weekends to help with farm work. From 1951 to 1955, he put the degree to work as a missionary in Mozambique where he was an agricultural maintenance and construction supervisor on the mission farm.
During the training for the mission work, he met Kathryn Miranda, also headed for Mozambique. At the end of their term they were married in Mozambique (a religious celebration) and in Johannesburg, South Africa, (the legal wedding). In 1967 Gil wrote, ”Married 13 years and still hopelessly in love. If this curve continues then we can’t wait to grow older.” For the majority of their married life they had a standing Friday night date, and celebrated both anniversary days until Kathy’s death in 2015.
They began married life on the Whitney farm where they started a family and Gil resumed work with his father, taking over the farm completely when his father died. Besides working as a dairy farmer, Gil was active in the Webster United Church of Christ where he served in many capacities, including a year as Interim Minister starting in 1978. He also filled in for absent pastors at other congregations, and he and Kathy gave presentations on their experiences in Mozambique. He was active in Interfaith Council for Peace, Farm Bureau, and various agricultural organizations.
In the late 1970’s he gave up full time farming and went to work as a machine builder at L&L Engineering, a job he enjoyed. It contained the creativity and mechanical ability that had marked his career as a farmer, without having to worry if the cows might get out. He retired in 1996 and he and Kathy took a series of trips, mostly in the United States, with one to Tanzania to meet up with their son, John, and daughter-in-law, Donna, who were ending their time in the Peace Corp. This was the closest they ever got to going back to Mozambique. However, their love of Mozambique was always evident whenever they showed slides or told stories about their time there.
He was deeply interested in other people and helped them feel at home, whether they were from another town or another country. He and Kathy welcomed many people into their home and family over the years. He is survived by a vast community of family and friends, including his children: Lynne (Merri), Lyle (Carol), John (Donna), and Nancy; grandchildren: Sophia (Matt), Violet (Nick), Stephen (Molly), Malaika (Matthew), Eben, Jennifer, and Tony; great-granddaughter Leila, and many nieces, nephews, and cousins.
The world was a better place for his presence.
Friends may share condolences and memories at his online guestbook.
