Marcia Whittington

Marica is survived by her three children, Susan Pittenger of Clovis, CA, Rich Whittington of French Lick, Indiana, and Robert Whittington of Paso Robles, CA. 10 grandchildren, and 16 great-grandchildren.

Marcia grew up in Glendale, CA the daughter of C.E. and Vera Van Saun. She married a young carpenter, Dick Whittington. The “two became one” and the story of Marcia, became the story of “Dick and Marcia”. Dick and Marcia shared a deep and abiding faith and what may have started as a traditional 1950s family life took an adventurous turn when in 1955 they felt God’s call to be come missionaries. Their family adventure of faith began.

Selling their modest possessions, they packed their 3 children (all under the age of 6) into the camper of their truck and headed for a unique missionary training school located in Central Texas.

Instead of leaving the missionary training school after the 6 month course, the students became the teachers and Dick and Marcia stayed on in leadership positions for the next five years. In 1961, they moved their family to Seoul South Korea, taking the position of administrator of an orphanage and outpatient clinic.

In 1969 Dick, Marcia, and family returned from Korea and settled in Atascadero, CA. Dick worked construction at Diablo Canyon Nuclear Power Plant, then for California Department of Transportation in various locations in California. They were always active members and leaders in the local churches in their area. They had a heart for Christian leaders and small churches.

Dick retired in 1978 and they began full time volunteer work helping missions, missionaries, pastors, and small churches in California and Baja California, Mexico. In every location and situation, Dick and Marcia lived out their faith in word and deed. They were virtually never without a leadership role in a church or mission endeavor. Their hearts were ever open to the needs of those around them, and those they met knew without a doubt that they cared.

Marcia had a love for children and loved teaching them about their God and Savior. She used Child Evangelism Fellowship materials like flannelgraph and Sunday School Charlie stories. She taught her grandchildren about the Lord investing time and resources in their lives. Wherever they lived they would find a small church and she would get busy teaching children, organizing, leading women’s groups, counseling and of course caring for her grandchildren. Her gift was service and she used it well for the Lord. Nothing was too big or small for her and God to accomplish.

Marcia’s family with gather in the fall to celebrate her life.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.boicefuneralhome.com for the Whittington family.