David Lewis Whitton

Funeral services for David Lewis Whitton of Houston, Texas, will be held at Cason Monk-Metcalf Chapel at 2 p.m. Sunday, July 19, 2015, with Dr. Allen Reed, pastor of First Baptist Church, officiating.

On Saturday, July 18, there will be a visitation from 6 until 8 p.m. at Cason Monk-Metcalf Funeral Directors.

Mr. Whitton peacefully entered Heaven, surrounded by his loving family, on Monday evening, July 13, 2015. He was born on March 8, 1945, in Nacogdoches, Texas, to Benjamin Clinton (B.C.) Whitton and Georgia Lewis Whitehead Whitton. After his mother’s untimely death when he was only 3, David and his two sisters were reared by maternal aunts, Gladys and Hazel Whitehead, who predeceased him.

David graduated from Nacogdoches High School in the Class of 1963, where he was an athlete who contributed his athletic talents to the sports teams for four years, and where he was often recognized for his outstanding “grit” and determination on the gridiron. He then attended Texas A&M University, where he was a member of the Corps of Cadets. For the remainder of his life, he was an avid supporter of Texas A&M and a lifelong Aggie. He proudly served his country as a medical corpsman during the Vietnam War era.

Mr. Whitton joined his father in the Whitton and Son Construction Company soon thereafter. He was the principal designer and project manager on many major construction projects in Nacogdoches and the East Texas area, including the Nacogdoches Exposition Center, several churches, schools and medical centers. His particular expertise was the attractive and functional combination of metal and other building materials. During this time, he earned his pilot’s license and enjoyed having his former high school coach, Gene Hale, as aviation instructor. After he closed Whitton Construction Company, he managed the design and construction of large production plants in Georgia, Alabama, Kansas and Texas. His career then took an international turn that lead him to Russia, where he lived and worked for four years while designing, constructing and managing large poultry producing plants. He retired in 2012.

Surviving to cherish Mr. Whitton’s memory are two daughters, Alana Whitton Varela (Fernando) and Paige Whitton; two granddaughters, Morgan Blayre Astolfo and Avery Ryan Davidson; four sisters, Darla Whitton Shirley (James), Linda Whitton Fischer, Marsha Whitton Welch (Van), and Marty Whitton Hamilton (Jim); seven nephews and two nieces; stepmother, Dorothy Whitton; his children’s mother, Marilyn Whitton; former wife and dear friend, Elena Whitton; and many other relatives and friends, and beloved and faithful Russian spaniel, Dasha.

Memorial contributions made in memory of David Lewis Whitton may be sent to: Wounded Warrior Project, P.O. Box 758517, Topeka, Kan., 66675,woundedwarriorproject.org; or to any SPCA or no-kill animal shelter in Nacogdoches or your preferred city.

The Whitton family would like to thank the doctors and nurses in the Critical Care ICU of the Conway Regional Medical Center, Conway, Ark., for the care and concern they gave to David during the past 15 days.