Dorwin and Mary Ann Whitacre

Dorwin Hewitt “Whit” Whitacre, 88, passed away peacefully, with family by his side, on the morning of April 5, 2024. Eleven days later, his wife, Mary Ann Mussatt Whitacre, 86, followed on the afternoon of April 16, 2024 after a 16-year struggle with Alzheimer’s Disease. Both resided at The Gardens at Fair Oaks assisted living center in Fairfax, Virginia since 2017, when they moved from the Atlanta, Georgia area. In Atlanta, they lived in the suburbs of Dunwoody and Tucker for 37 years.

Dorwin and Mary Ann were born at St. Catherine’s Hospital in East Chicago, Indiana on February 8, 1936 and June 27, 1937, respectively. They were raised in the town of Highland, Indiana. Dorwin’s father, Charles L. Whitacre, was a school principal and mother, Ada Bowser Whitacre, a restaurant owner and member of the Highland Merchants’ Association. Mary Ann’s father, Reno Mussatt, worked for Bethlehem Steel and was a union local chapter President. Mary Ann’s mother, Jenny Laverda Mussatt, was a homemaker for her and brother Jerry.

Dorwin and Mary Ann met at Griffith High School in the neighboring town of Griffith. Dorwin played football and baseball and graduated in 1954. Mary Ann graduated in 1955 and was class President and Salutatorian.

Dorwin attended Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana and was a member of the Phi Delta Theta fraternity. He graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Industrial Economics in 1958. Mary Ann attended Chicago Wesley Memorial Hospital School of Nursing in Chicago, Illinois, graduating with a Diploma in Nursing in 1958 and was also the class President.

They were married on September 6. 1958 at Highland Presbyterian Church where Dorwin’s mother was a founding member.

Dorwin entered the US Army as a Second Lieutenant in 1959. His first overseas assignment was Stuttgart, Germany in 1960. This was the first of 19 addresses Dorwin and Mary Ann would have over Dorwin’s 22-year military career in the Signal Corps. He retired a Lieutenant Colonel in 1980 at Fort Gillem outside Atlanta, Georgia. Dorwin was a cold warrior with three tours of duty in Vietnam. In 1964, he was one of the first US Army advisors to the Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN). After the Army, he had a career in the telecommunications industry working for Bellsouth, Scientific-Atlanta, and AT&T Tridom. He then joined Mary Ann in real estate before retirement in the early 2000’s.

Mary Ann became a mother in 1961 and raised two sons. She was active in the military community serving as President of Officer’s Wives Clubs in multiple locations and Cub Scout Den Mother, among other roles. She returned to nursing in 1974. In 1980, she became a real estate agent in Atlanta. She was extremely successful in real estate sales, earning many consecutive Million Dollar Club awards, culminating with induction into the Re/Max Hall of Fame in 2006.

Throughout their lives, Dorwin and Mary Ann stressed honesty, integrity, and personal responsibility to their sons. They emphasized the importance of family with regular dinners and holiday celebrations at their home. They also made a tradition of an annual family beach vacation in Saint Simons Island, Georgia.

Dorwin and Mary Ann are survived by their beloved sons: Phillip (Rebecca) and Michael (Mara); 4 grandchildren: Alexander, Anna Marie, Matthew, and Caroline; and two great-grandchildren: Nora and Clark. Mary Ann is also survived by her brother, Jerry (Sue).

We are at peace knowing they are now together.

The Whitacre family gives Special Thanks to the staff at The Gardens at Fair Oaks for the care they provided Dorwin and Mary Ann in their later years and to PHS Hospice and Capital Caring Hospice for the support provided to our loved ones in their final days. We will always carry your memory in our hearts.

A joint memorial service will be held for Dorwin and Mary Ann at Demaine Funeral Home – Fairfax, 10565 Main Street, Fairfax, Virginia 22030 on Saturday, May 4, 2024 at 10:00 AM EST. The officiant is Henry G. Brinton, Senior Pastor at Fairfax Presbyterian Church.

Because it was their wish to be cremated, there will not be a visitation, viewing, or burial service.

Any flowers should be sent to Demaine Funeral Home to arrive between 8AM EST Friday, May 3 and 10AM EST, Saturday, May 4. The Funeral Home provides a link to order flowers: Sympathy and Funeral.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in Mary Ann’s memory to the Alzheimer’s Association. Please visit Donate to Fight Alzheimer's Disease and designate “in memory of Mary Ann Whitacre” to help her family support this cause.