Jack was born in Arkansas, to Treva Mae Whitener and Leo "Arkie" Whitener. He moved to California with his family when he was one year old. He grew up on Bethel Island where his father worked as a levee superintendent. He graduated from Liberty High School in 1966 and then joined the U.S. Army. He served our Country from 1967-68 as an infantryman during the Vietnam War. Upon his return home, he returned to Bethel Island working as a volunteer firefighter. He became a full time firefighter in 1971 and was appointed Fire Chief in 1974, a position he held until 1994.
Jack is survived by his younger brother’s Bob, Jerry, his younger sister’s Karen and Paula, daughter's Jacy Phillips and Tawny Hendon as well as nine grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
His late son Ben followed in his footsteps to be a firefighter, working his way up to Captain with the East Contra Costa Fire Protection District before he passed away 2012. Chief Whitener was 71 years old.
