Forrest D. Whitten

Forrest D. Whitten, age 84, passed away January 20, 2012. He was born October 19, 1927 in Columbus, Ohio to the late Forrest and Eula (Garrett) Whitten; also preceded in death by his first wife, Viola (Ritzman) Whitten; daughter, Diane Kilgore; brothers, Marion and Raymond; sister, Katherine Kuntz and brothers-in-law, Jim Ritzman and James Miller. Forrest graduated from Washington Courthouse High School and served in the U.S. Navy during WWII, allowing him an opportunity to sail around the world. He loved the Navy! He retired from Rockwell-Boeing with 34 years of service. He lived out his love for God in everyday life and through worship at Hillcrest Baptist Church, and more recently, at Faith Baptist Church. He was a member of American Legion Post #614, and recently had the privilege of participating in the Honor Flight to Washington D.C. He loved anything having to do with cars, especially his corvettes and NASCAR, was an airplane enthusiast, and above all, loved the time he spent with his family. Those family members left to mourn and forever remember him include his wife, Annabelle; daughter, Debbie (Doug) Schumaker; grandchildren, Desiree (Bradie) Milatovich and Whitney (Andrew) Carlson; sisters, Barbara Miller and Betty (Harry) Swingle; stepchildren, Laura (Will) Marshall, Bonnie (Dave) Rose, Audrey (Craig) Bigrigg, Katherine (Jim) Oglive, Rebecca (Benny) Wright, Bruce (Donna) Kountz, Karen Faye (Bill) Fraley, Mary Jo (Eddie) Blair, Marie (Greg) Montjoy, James (Katherine) Kountz, John, Kenneth, Dennis and Charles Kountz; step-grandchildren, Michael, Katelyn, Zack (Sarah), Corey Kountz, April and Sarah Rose, Christopher, Scott and Thomas Bigrigg, Marshall and Annabelle McGee, Elizabeth Pryor, Gary Dunnuck, Jamie (Miles) Finney, Robert Gabbert, Gracie, Matthew and Claire Perez, Xavier and Isabelle Montjoy, Orion and Mercury Kountz; great-grandchildren, Brenna Milatovich, Brian Finney and Kylee Kountz; sister-in-law, Theresa Ritzman and Joe Kuntz; sons in law, Michael McGee and Kyle (Linda) Kilgore; beloved cat, Miss Daisy; other family and friends. Family will receive friends 2-4 and 6-8pm Tuesday, January 24, 2012 at Schoedinger Hilltop Chapel, 3030 W. Broad St., Columbus, OH 43204. Funeral Services will be held at 10am Wednesday, January 25, 2012 at Hillcrest Baptist Church, 2480 W. Broad St., Columbus, OH 43204 with Rev. Tim Lee, Rev. Glenn Perry and Rev. Bud Brown officiating; interment with military honors to follow in Sunset Cemetery, Galloway, OH. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Faith Baptist Church, 2848 Demorest Rd., Grove City, OH 43123.