Samuel John Whitley, Major USAF Ret.

Samuel J Whitley was born in Dallas, South Dakota November 27, 1934. His parents were Vere and Taletta Whitley who farmed near Dallas. While in high school he met his wife, Beverly Johnston, on a blind date. Entering the military immediately following high school, he began his 30 year career in the Air Force. A few years after joining the Air Force he married the love of his life. They were married for 63 years. Sam and Beverly had three children, Janet (Matthew) Rivett of Maricopa, AZ; Annett (Glen) Heide of Grand Junction, CO and Samuel (Kathy) Whitley of Cheyenne, Wy. Beverly preceded Sam in death. He loved his 12 grandchildren and 20 great grandchildren. He was a devoted family man and loved them greatly.

After being married for a few years, Sam came to understand his need to be saved by his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. This decision to follow Jesus was the most important decision of his life. His loving kindness, generosity, self-control, patience, gentleness, and peace were evidence of his relationship with his savior and were born out of his desire to represent his Lord well. He shared his love for his Lord Jesus Christ very readily with his family and anyone he would meet his entire life. His retirement years were spent spreading God's word through Gideons International where he personally handed out hundreds of New Testaments.

During his 30-year career with the Air Force he excelled at many positions. He often times mentioned with pride being a tail gunner in a B-52. Total flight hours for his career was 4 hours short of 5000. He was able to work his way thru college while being stationed in New Hampshire and earned a Bachelor of Business Science degree in Business Management and accounting. He accomplished all this while flying 3600 hours and completing his alert requirements for the Strategic Air Command. With this continued education, he was able to attend Officers Training School and was commissioned as an officer in 1968. During his career he was awarded many medals, most notably The Bronze Star Medal for meritorious service as Munitions Maintenance and Storage Officer while engaged in ground operations against an opposing armed force at Nakhon Phanon Royal Thai Air Force Base, Thailand from 1969 to 1970. He exhibited superb planning and close attention to detail which contributed immeasurably to the overall success and effectiveness of his unit's mission. His time in the military took him around the United States and the world including Ellsworth AFB, South Dakota; Alaska, North Africa, Wake and Johnston Island, Kwajalein and other small Islands in the Pacific; Sheppard AFB, Texas; Pease AFB, New Hampshire; Lackland AFB,Texas; Lowery AFB, Colorado; Nakhon Phanon RTAFB, Thailand; Wildenrth AB, Germany; Rimini AB, Italy; Hickam AFB, Hawaii. He was accompanied by his family to many of these places and the entire family was able to enjoy their travels.

The skills exhibited throughout his military career extended beyond his retirement from the military. He worked a variety of jobs after his military retirement including construction, police dispatch, tax preparation and the became the director of the Minneluzahan Senior Citizen Center. Woodworking was a lifetime hobby and skill which he shared with others by making cabinets for his church and many, many toys for family and friends. Playing cards helped keep his mind sharp and helped forge many friendships. Both Sam and Beverly moved to Grand Junction to be closer to family in 2012. Friendships came easily to Sam. He made many at the Grand Junction Senior Citizen Center where he continued to play cards. Many of his friends were members of the Gideons-Grand Mesa Camp. He was a member of HEART of Junction Church.

Memorial contributions can be made to Gideons-Grand Mesa Camp PO Box 755 Clifton, CO

81520.

A funeral service for Samuel will be held Monday, May 13, 2024 at 11:00 AM at Callahan-Edfast Mortuary & Crematory, 2515 Patterson Rd., Grand Junction, Colorado 81505. Following the funeral service will be a burial with military honors at 1:00 PM at Veterans Memorial Cemetery of Western Colorado, 2830 Riverside Pkwy., Grand Junction, CO 81501.