Anthony Whitehead

On Oct 5, 2016, at 8 a.m., Anthony (Tony) Whitehead gave up his spirit peacefully to our Lord surrounded by his wife, Valerie, his two daughters Terry and Michelle and two of his four sons, David and Brad.

Anthony or Tony as he liked to be called, was born June 29, 1938, in Mt. Vernon, NY. On January 25, 1958, Tony married the love of his life, Valerie L. Taube. He graduated from Memphis State University in 1962 and started his career with the Food and Drug Administration on February 1963. He and Valerie started their family with their first born, Tony Jr. in 1959, Theresa M. in 1960, David P. in 1961, Stephen D. in 1962, Brad T. in 1964 and Michelle K. in 1965. He was an amazing father and husband, who worked his entire life providing for his large family.

In 1974, Tony was promoted to Director of the U.S. Food Administration in Houston, TX, where he finished his career in October 1989. Although most people would have ended their career with full retirement, not Tony Whitehead. This was a new and better chapter of his life. He and Valerie were empty nesters and Tony took a position with Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, which relocated him and Valerie to Rome, Italy. This career took Tony all over the world, and in many countries. He and Valerie traveled to places such as China, Thailand, Singapore, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Jordan, Israel, Switzerland and Nepal.

He and Valerie lived an incredible life together traveling for many years, until he finally retired in 1998. He came home to Spring, TX to “The Northampton Home” to enjoy life as the most amazing “Da” (grandfather). He took great pride in his family and took his position as head of the household with great honor. He was not only respected by all those that knew him, but he was deeply loved. He was the dad you could take any problem to and he had a solution, he was not an alarmist, but a scholar and philosopher.

Tony is survived by his beloved and forever wife Valerie; his 6 children, Tony, Terry, David, Stephen, Brad and Michelle; his brother, Mike Edger; and his 17 grandchildren, Jon, Kris, Ashlyn, Matt, Michelle, Alisha, Ashley, Ariel, Adrienne, Daniel, Marie, Claire, Joshua, Lani, Kiana, Dominique, Danielle and 2 great-grandchildren, Sean and Jameson.

In lieu of flowers, please direct memorial contributions in Tony's name to St. Jude Children's Hospital in Memphis, TN (www.stjude.org).