A.L. Wilhite

At 9:45 p.m. on February 17, 2017, God spoke and the gates of Heaven opened and the angels came and took dad to glory at the age of 97 years. He was born July 15, 1919 to Robert and Minnie (Holland) Wilhite of Milltown, AR. He was the last survivor of eleven children. He was a WWII veteran in the U.S. Army, 9th Armored Engineers, who help capture the Remagen Bridge in Bastogne Germany. The 9th Armored earned eleven distinguished unit awards for their service. A.L. was a retired member of the Sebastian County Mounted Patrol and the Sebastian County Cattlemen’s Association. In addition, he was a member of the Jenny Lind Masonic Lodge #503 F&AM and the Shriners Club of Ft. Smith. A.L. was a life time farmer and cattleman; his home grown tomatoes were the best in the county. He and his wife owned and operated Wilhite Produce Market in Rye Hill and Barling for many years.

In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by his wife, Dollie, who he was married to for 63 years; great granddaughter, LaRonda Wilhite Sullivan; daughter-in-law, Janie Smoot Wilhite and son-in-law, Loyd Walker. He loved his family. He always told his friends that he was proud of his kids, but the thing he was most proud of was serving his country.

Funeral service will be 10 a.m., Wednesday, February 22 at Edwards Funeral Home Chapel with interment at Steep Hill Cemetery under the direction of McConnell Funeral Home of Greenwood. Viewing will be Tuesday from 2-8 p.m. at Edwards Funeral Home, where the family will visit with friends from 6-8 p.m.

He is survived by his children, Allen Wilhite of Muldrow, Rick Wilhite and wife, Barbara of Poteau, Linda Izell and husband, Pat of Greenwood, Mildred Walker of Lavaca and Jean Floyd and husband, Art of Huntington; grandchildren , Joe and Candace Wilhite of Tulsa, Tanis Wilhite of Muldrow, Patrick And Crystal Izell of Greenwood, Steven Izell of Poteau, Wayne and Darla Walker, Gayla and Chris Watson all of Lavaca, Anthony and Claudia Floyd of Denton, Texas, Chris and Brittany Floyd of Huntington, Jonathon Wilhite of Greenwood and Aaron Wilhite of Springdale; several nieces and nephews, whom he loved dearly; thirty-one great grandchildren, thirteen great great grandchildren and four great great great grandchildren.

Pallbearers will be Joe, Joseph, Jonathon and Aaron Wilhite, Patrick and Steven Izell, Anthony and Chris Floyd, Wayne Walker and Danny Wheeler.

Honorary pallbearers will be his two granddaughters, Tanis Wilhite and Gayla Watson

To sign an online guestbook, please visit www.mcconnellfh.com