Fred Thomas Whitman

Lt. Col. Fred Thomas Whitman (USMC, Ret.), 85, of Stafford County, passed away on Thursday, February 15, 2018, peacefully at his home in Hartwood. He is now at home with his Lord and Savior. He served as an officer in the Marine Corps for 26 years – including service in Vietnam during the Tet Offensive. After his retirement, he joined the faculty of Mary Washington College, where he taught business for 32 years. During this time, he touched the lives of thousands of students. He was actively involved in his church, Highway Assembly of God, during his 46 years of membership – serving as trustee, treasurer, and in any role necessary. He truly demonstrated what it meant to be a servant-leader. He is fondly remembered as “The Candyman” by the church children who adored him. Countless friends and neighbors relied on him over the years for financial and yearly-tax assistance. Most of all, he will be remembered for his sacrificial giving and his quiet compassion.

He was a loving husband to Pauline Anne Whitman – his college sweetheart and wife of 60 years – and with whom he is now joined in heaven, along with their first-born son, John. He is survived by daughters Sharon Hebert and husband Ray, Susan Ball and husband Steve, Jeanne Kahn and husband David, Nancy Bass and husband Bryan, Anne Whitman; sons Andrew Whitman and wife Stacey, James Whitman and wife Rachel, Michael Whitman and wife Stacie; 16 grandchildren, and 14 great-grandchildren and counting.

He is also survived by sister-in-law, Betty Sue Whitman; niece, Kellie Soot; nephew, Greg Whitman; and two aunts, Ruby Lee Ritchie and Mildred Plummer.

The family will receive friends from 7 to 9 p.m. Tuesday, February 20, at Mullins and Thompson Funeral Service, Fredericksburg. A funeral will be held at 10 a.m. Wednesday, February 21 at Highway Assembly of God, with interment at noon in Quantico National Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Highway Assembly of God Missions Program or to the Fredericksburg Area Food Bank.