Diane Whitney

Growing up in Wichita, Diane enjoyed her youth, was involved in Girl Scouts, playing the piano, and high school choir. She enjoyed the excitement of Friday night football games, along with family vacations to Colorado, visiting her grandparents in Arkansas, found her love of roller coasters when visiting Six Flags over Texas and Worlds of Fun in Kansas City, a trip to Europe with friends, and secured jobs working at Burger King and later, Columbian securities as a secretary. All of this before graduating from South High School in 1976.

One of the many highlights of her life was meeting Jack Whitney while attending Glen Park Christian Church. After dating, the pair married on February 12, 1983 at Immanuel Baptist Church in Wichita where they enjoyed a honeymoon in San Francisco followed by living in the Los Angeles area where over the next 4 years. Here, they enjoyed the numerous activities the city held and they celebrated life together by taking advantage of the sites and scenery when exploring Knotts Berry Farm, taking in the tastes of different restaurants, as well as the food and shops down on the Pier, yet one of their fondest memories of this time was the birth of their first child, Julia, in Covina, CA. These were cherished memories made, before moving back to Wichita for Jack’s work.

Once here, they welcomed son’s Jared and David, where she was not only an excellent wife, mother, and homemaker, and attended Calvary Baptist Church, in Derby. When not busy in these roles, she found solace in reading her bible, listening to smooth jazz, classical, and piano, cooking delicious meals, and swimming. She was sure to raise her children in faith, took time for fun when at the park, going to plays, hand making crafts to send to others and still made time for roller coasters with season passes to Silver Dollar City amusement park.

Even after her children were grown, Colorado was still a favorite place for her and Jack to visit. She kept an immaculately Victorian, delicate and pretty home as well as loved to grow flowers and visit some of the many botanical gardens around. She had a full life surrounded by her family and faith and is now at peace with her Lord and Savior.

Diane is preceded by her father, Claude and those left to honor her memory are her mother, Anice; husband, Jack; sisters, Nancy (Chip) Gramke and Carol (Mark) Edmiston; children, Julia (Joshua) Dale, Jared Whitney, and David Whitney; parakeet, Sweet Pea; and many nieces and nephews.

A funeral service for Diane will be held Thursday, June 6, 2024 at 1:00 PM at Resthaven Mortuary, followed by a graveside service at Resthaven Gardens of Memory, in the garden of Gospels, Lot 129D, Space 4, 11800 West Highway 54, Wichita, KS 67209.