Phillip was born on March 22, 1939 to the late Louis Whitney and Elizabeth Whitney, in Wahoo, Nebraska. He was part of a large family, including siblings Jim, Warren, Lawrence, Joan, Mary, Barbara, Kathleen, Susan, Patty, and Rosemary.
On October 31, 1960, he married the love of his life, JoAnn Dykes Whitney, and moved to Jacksonville, Florida. Together, JoAnn and Phillip raised their four children with love, compassion, faith, and humor. Phillip was a steady rock for his family. Quiet, consistent, loyal, and loving, he was our fearless leader and guidepost for how to love, laugh, and live. He dutifully served his country as a Warrant Officer and Master Chief in the Navy, completing 20 years of service. Upon his Naval retirement, he continued to work tirelessly to provide for his family, until retiring from the United States Postal Service in 2000. Together, Phillip and JoAnn were models for how to maintain a loving and nurturing home and for how we should all treat and care for one another. Phillip’s laugh and sense of humor made him easy to love. He acquired fast and lifelong friends everywhere he went. He enjoyed bowling and golf, watching his favorite football and baseball teams, gardening, and model trains; but above all, he loved spending time with his family. He was a compassionate and selfless caregiver for JoAnn in her last years, when in spite of difficult hardships and illness, they continued to enjoy cheering on the Cubs together, working the daily crosswords, and reminiscing about the very full, successful, and rewarding lives they were able to lead. Following JoAnn’s passing in 2017, Phillip spent many hours with friends and family at Chick’s Beach, watching the ships go by, “manning the rail,” enjoying beautiful sunsets, and collecting seashells with his grandson. He never gave up hope, faith, or courage during a hard-fought battle with a protracted rare blood disease. As he journeyed out of this world and into the next, he and his family listened to favorite Charlie Pride songs that he always sang to JoAnn.
Phillip is survived by his siblings Joan, Mary, Barbara, Kathleen, Susan, Patty, and Rosemary; his children Richard (and wife Lyn), Kenneth (and wife Susan), and Michael Whitney (and wife Sherri), and Jennifer Whitney Gildea; his grandchildren, Marie, Jeanenna, Kayla, Dedra, Tiffany, Justin, Caleb, Morgan, Paige, Rachael, Phillip, and Colin; and great-grandchildren Ruby and Taylor.
A visitation will be held on Sunday March 11, 2018 from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. at Rosewood-Kellum Funeral Home, 601 N. Witchduck Rd., Virginia Beach VA 23464.
Funeral service will be held on Monday March 12, 2018 at 12:30 p.m. at the funeral home. Burial will follow at Rosewood Memorial Park. There will be a reception immediately after in the funeral home. In Phillip’s memory, please consider donations to his favorite charitable organizations: The American Cancer Society www.americancancersociety.org , Lee’s Friends (7400 Hampton Blvd. Room 201, Norfolk, VA 23505), or to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society www.lls.org/donate.
