Frank Edward Whitman

Frank Edward Whitman, age 78, passed away on February 11, 2015. Frank was born October 13th 1936, to Edward and Esther Whitman in Boone, Iowa. The family of six included: older twin siblings Roger and Janice and younger brother Robert. Frank graduated from Boone High in 1955; he enjoyed playing drums in the band. Frank attended Humboldt Technical Institute in Minneapolis, receiving a diploma in Transportation Management. In December of 1956 while living in Chicago he enlisted in the US Air Force for a three-year tour. After basic training in Texas, Frank was stationed at Incirlik Air Base, Turkey. In 1961, Frank moved to Denver Colorado to railroad with his older brother (the family business); while remaining in the Reserves. In October 1961 Frank re-enlisted to active duty. This brought him to Portland, Oregon, where he met and married Patty J. Gunnestrup in January 1963. He stayed in the USAF for an additional 27-years retiring November of 1988. During his career he was also stationed at: Wheelus AFB, Libya; Norton AFB & Hamilton AFB, California; Da Nang AFB, Vietnam; Dover AFB, Delaware; & Travis AFB, California. Frank achieved the rank of Chief Master Sergeant (E-9), working as a Load Master Supervisor on the Lockheed C -5 Galaxy. In 1988, Frank and Patty returned to the Portland area where he worked for White-GMC Volvo Truck and Herzog-Meier. Frank retired in 2002 and he and Patty were married for 47-years. Frank cared for Patty as she lost her battle with cancer in 2010, and now he has succumbed himself. He is survived by his brother Robert of Boone, Iowa; daughter Pamela Cecchini of Dixon, California; son Michael of Beaverton, Oregon; two grandchildren and one great-grandchild. Memorial Services will be held at Finley's Sunset Memorial, Portland, on Saturday March 14th at 10:30 am. Internment at the Willamette National Cemetery will be held on Monday March 16th at 10:30 am.