John H. Whelton

John H. Whelton, 82, of Port Orange passed away on July 21st, 2018 at Halifax Port Orange Hospital.  Mr. Whelton was born in Portland, ME on January 19, 1936 to the late J. Horace and Iva T. Whelton. He attended Northeastern University in Boston, was a US Army Reserve veteran, and worked for Getty Oil Company as an accountant.  Mr. Whelton spent 30 successful years with Getty at several locations throughout New England, during which he transferred from accounting to marketing, and took early retirement from Getty in 1987 at age 51 as a Marketing Representative in Maine. At that time, John and wife, Marion, moved to the Daytona area.  Prior to retirement, John had been a national youth TAC (The Athletic Congress) official, and had been active in many youth developmental activities through TAC, YMCA, Little League, school, and church.  He organized the first Little League Softball League in central Maine, and in 1986, was the coach for the national champions 17-18 year old girls cross-country running team from Maine at the Junior Olympics at USC, Irvine CA.  After retiring, Mr. Whelton continued his youth development activities in Florida as a school mentor, Big Brother, and Guardian Ad Litem.  He was a member of the Daytona Museum of Arts & Science and the Halifax Historical Society, where he was a former editor of their newsletter.  He was an officer in the Getty/Texaco Retirees Club, the Friendship Force, the Florida Northern District Shuffleboard Assoc., the Volusia County Shuffleboard Assoc., and the City Island, Mainland, and DeLand Shuffleboard Clubs.  He participated in the Shuffleboard Northern District Amateur Masters Tournament twice, and as a professional he played in tournaments throughout Central Florida.  He and his wife were avid antique collectors, and they belonged to the national Currier & Ives Collectors Club, for which John wrote articles and conducted seminars.  He and his wife enjoyed learning about history and different cultures through extensive foreign travel.  They hosted many visitors to this country through the Friendship Force, and they participated in many Friendship Force exchanges throughout the world, some of which John led as Exchange Director.  They toured 39 different countries, some several times, and all 50 USA states. John’s camera was always on his shoulder, and he enjoyed compiling impressive annual photo albums.  He was very proud of his twin daughters, and very activity supported all of their activities.  John not only lived a full life, but he affected many other lives.  Survivors include his loving wife of 55 years, Marion; twin daughters, Air Force Colonel Denise Cooper, PhD and her husband Scott of San Antonio, and Diane Delp and her husband Lt. Col (ret) Mark Delp of Charlottesville VA; 5 grandchildren; 7 nieces and nephews; and one sister in law, Lorraine Day of Deleon Springs.  He was preceded in death by his sister, Laura Palmer and niece Kim Palmer.

A Gathering of Friends and Family will be Saturday, August 4th at Shannon Maloney Funeral Home, 4084 Halifax Drive, Port Orange, beginning at 10am with a Celebration of John’s Life to begin at 11am.  A luncheon reception will follow at the funeral home to allow for additional fellowship and memories to be shared.  In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the Museum of Arts and Sciences or the Halifax Historical Society. Arrangements entrusted to Shannon Maloney Funeral Home.