The Buckley SFB military Retiree Activities Office (RAO) would like to offer our sincere condolences and our gratitude for TSgt Whittier's service to our country in the Air Force.  If you would like help with any matters related to casualty assistance, Defense Finance & Accounting Service, Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP), Veterans Affairs (VA), etc. you can contact our office on Buckley SFB at 720-847-6693.  The RAO is staffed by volunteers, all military retirees themselves, and our sole purpose is to provide assistance to any military retirees and surviving spouses/family members with anything related to their military service and/or benefits, in particular during difficult times such as this.  We are deeply sorry for your loss.

Steve Young	
Lt Col, USAF, Ret
Director, Buckley SFB RAO


I was a young girl, 15 years old when I first  met Allen. He was 17, a good looking and handsome young man and a basketball star. What girl wouldn't be a little star struck? We dated for almost a year and then he went away to college and like any fickle young girl of that time, I had two more years of high school and several more  boyfriends. As I think we all do as we age, I look back on that sweet time of innocence and life. 
As we all know, life gets complicated and messy. We grow old and make mistakes and create some successes as well. It's called life! 
I was grateful to Mark and Sheila Zipse when Sheila reached out to me that Allen was in the hospital and on his final journey of this life. I wrote a long letter to him to let  him know that he made a lasting impression on my young life. I told him about my life, the losses, the successes, the everydayness of it. I feel so strongly that it is our responsibility in this life to let the people we have  loved and known to know how important they were to us. With all the sorrow in this weary world there needs to be the ever forgiving light of mercy and kindness to dim the darkness and shine a light of hope. It feeds the soul to do this.
 Allen, my friend, my awakening to young love, I am grateful to you. May you rest in peace and God's mercy, the ever loving God of mercy and forgiveness. May your family find comfort in sweet and happy memories and let go of any sorrows. 
Julie

 Charles Allan Whittier was my cousin.  I remember that he spent many years in Grand Junction sports growing up.  My family while in Glenwood had him staying with us for a while- my dad Bob West, mom Daisy, my brother Bob and I.   He loved being out and enjoyed fishing among other things.

While in the military, he traveled to  places around the United States.   He was a member of the Tactical Air Command .  A Staff Sargeant in the US Air Force, an Aircraft Navigation Systems Repairman at Nellis AFB.  He talked about the flying he was able to do and how he missed it.

His mother, Wilma Whittier,  taught for years at Orchard Avenue School, his brother David Whittier was also a teacher at schools around the Grand Junction area.  

I thank the Veterans Hospital for the care they gave him in these last several years and during Covid.  I wish I could have spent time with him but because of closures that wasn't possible.
    Carole (West) Slonaker

OBITUARY

Charles Allen Whittier

March 10, 1940 – March 14, 2022

Callahan-Edfast Mortuary & Crematory

Show your support

Add a Memory

Share Obituary

Get Reminders

Services