Clarence E. Whitbey

Clarence E. Whitbey, 83, of Rochester Hills, Michigan, passed away February 23, 2016. Born February 11, 1933 in Hutton Valley, MO, he was the son of the late Jesse R and Gayle (Smith) Whitbey. Clarence started working in newspapers at the age of 13. By the time he moved to Mt. Clemens, Mich in 1955, he had worked in newspapers throughout southern Missouri and Kansas City, MO. While serving in the US Army, he wrote the Official Printing Instruction manual, which continued to train personnel in offset printing until the 1980s. At 26 years old, he started Avon Printing Company in downtown Rochester. Until his retirement in 1996, he built Avon Printing as to be one of the most respected, highest quality printers in SE Michigan. Clarence was involved in the Rotary Club in Rochester, joining in 1959 and serving as President in 1968-1969. He was a Paul Harris Fellow. He was a gifted photographer, avid RVer, and could fix and build most anything. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his sister, Margie Landrey and granddaughter Sara Jo Whitbey. Clarence is survived by his loving wife, Dorene (Dobat) Whitbey; son Jeff (Dawn) Whitbey of Rochester Hills, daughter Lorene (Terry Williams) Whitbey of Mt. Juliet, Tenn., granddaughter Marisa Joy (Joel) Olszewski, sisters Fern (Robert) Bethel of West Plains, MO, and Mae (Bill) Craig of Mt. Vernon, MO , sister-in-law Mary Lou Dobat of Troy, Mich; Step grandchildren Jennifer Donaldson (Jerry), Matthew Donaldson (Lisa) , Kayla Belcher, great grandson Caleb Donaldson; devoted nieces and nephews, as well as his fellow Rotarians and RV friends. Funeral Service will be held Monday, February 29 , 11 a.m. at St. Paul’s United Methodist Church, 620 Romeo Road, Rochester, Rev. David Eardley officiating. Clarence will lie in state at the church at 10 a.m. Interment to follow at Mt. Avon Cemetery. A gathering of his family and friends will be held on Sunday, February 28 from 2 pm to 8 pm at the Pixley Funeral Home, 322 W University Drive, Rochester. Memorials appreciated to Rochester Rotary Charities or St. Paul’s Methodist Church.