Charles Lowell Whitney

The eldest of four children, Chuck was born to Charles and Doris Whitney. Brother Bob, sister Charlene, and brother Mike followed Chuck. After his parent’s divorce, Chuck welcomed his new stepmother, Bette and stepfather, Doug, into his life.

When Chuck graduated from Kennewick High, where he excelled in his classed and wrestling. After graduation, he was unsure of what he wanted to study in college. Not wanting to waste his time directionless at a University, Chuck instead enlisted in the Army, confident that a soldier’s education also would be invaluable to him. He spend his tour of duty in Germany and Georgia and returned to Seattle to attend the University of Washington after his release from the Army. During his freshman year in May 1968, Chuck’s brother, Bob was killed serving in Vietnam. Chuck moved home to be with his family, and returned to the UW the following year, where he earned a Bachelor’s degree in business and accounting. He also became a Certified Public Accountant.

While working and raising his family, Chuck attended graduate school in the evenings, and completed his master’s degree in Business MBA. At the UW, Chuck was a member of the Alpha Sigma Phi fraternity. Since graduating from college over thirty years ago, Chuck played poker many first Fridays of every month with college and other friends. Mike Russell, a fraternity brother and long-time friend, hosted the poker parties.

Chuck met Carole while out with friends at a dancing club in Seattle shortly after he moved to the city to attend college. They spent the night huddled around a fire that they had started at Alkai Beach. Chuck married Carole in South Bend, WA on March 25, 1972. The newlywed’s first home was in the lower Queen Anne neighborhood. Over the years, Chuck’s jobs in health care finance and accounting relocated them to Hillsboro, Oregon and Eagle River, Alaska before they resettled in Seattle in 1987. Along the way, Brooke was born in Seattle, and Lindsay joined the family in Alaska. Chuck and Carole built a house together in 1994 on the outskirts of Woodinville, WA., and it remains as their family home today. Chuck was very proud of his “Project Management” and personal involvement in building our home.

Chuck currently worked as the Chief Financial Officer for Wesley Homes in Des Moines, WA. Over the Last ten years, he developed many friendships with coworkers, business associates and residents of the retirement community. Chuck delighted in getting to know the residents and hearing their life stories. He drew much inspiration from him.

This last Christmas, Chuck enjoyed many days with his daughters, who were able to be home for the holidays. Chuck spoke to them of his love for their mother. He said matter of factly, “Your mother has some quirks – like hallucinating in her sleep at times – but she’s her own person, always has been just who she wanted, and that’s one reason I love her.”

In Chuck there was something genuine, trustworthy, and familial. He was the family’s foundation – always bringing calm, perspective, optimism, and solutions to any situation.

Chuck especially loved war histories, biographies, and science fiction. Chuck liked candy bars snickers, but anything with peanuts seemed sufficient, Nutter-Butters, trucks, sausage especially pepperoni sticks, cola, coffee, and poker. He parted his hair to the side.

At 40, he spent his free time with his daughters and all of their activities. For many years, Chuck was deeply involved in working with the local hockey associations – and he was his daughters’ biggest supporter during their hockey years!

At 50, he continued to roller blade with his girls.

At 60, he enjoyed lattes and long conversations with Carole and his daughters at local coffee shops Tully’s in Woodinville as a favorite. Going out for breakfast on a weekend morning was routine and special…whether it was a 5 spot on Queen Anne Hill or the Maltby Café just down the road.

Please sign Charles's on-line memorial guestbook at washelli.com