Chin Ok Whitman

Chin was born on August 20, 1947, in South Korea, the daughter of Bong Kyu Hwang and Mak Rae Kim. She met her husband, Donald Whitman, while working at a bank in Seoul as he served as a Master Sergeant in the U.S. Air Force. They were married in Thailand before making their home in Dallas, Texas.

After Chin retired from Boeing, she and Donald owned and operated what many fondly called “the best Donut Palace in Dallas” for more than 20 years. After retiring, they relocated to Austin to be closer to their daughters. Chin faithfully served as a Deacon at Austin Korean Presbyterian Church. She found joy in life’s simple pleasures—gardening, spending time outdoors, long walks, playing the Korean drum, and ballroom dancing. Above all, it was her grandchildren who brought her the greatest happiness.

She is survived by her daughters, Lisa Jean Wickham and her husband Jonathan, and Donna Lee Bell and her husband Kevin; her brothers, In Young Hwang and Chi Young Hwang; her sisters, Moon Ok Jang and Keum Ok Hwang; and her beloved grandchildren, Alex, Chloe, Wesley, and Walker.

Chin is laid to rest alongside her husband at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery in San Antonio, Texas.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial donations be made to AGE of Central Texas in memory of Chin Ok Whitman. Donations can be made at ageofcentraltx.org.