James "Jim" Dale Whitehead

James Dale (Jim) Whitehead was born on December 18th, 1948 in Wichita, Kansas. Son of William Thomas Whitehead Jr. and Ruth Ann (Koester) Whitehead, Jim was the eldest of nine children. Jim was raised in Wichita, attended Christ the King Elementary School and graduated in the first graduating class of Bishop Carroll High School (1966). After graduating, Jim was unsure what he wanted to do in life, so he joined the United States Navy. He attended boot camp, followed by Radioman A School in San Diego, California. He was then assigned to the Naval Air Station in Minneapolis, Minnesota. After his tour was up in Minneapolis, he decided to sign up for a one-year tour in Vietnam and was stationed in Saigon. Jim was honorably discharged on October 3rd, 1970, and returned to Wichita where he met and married Anna Marie Genter. Jim and Anna had two children. Christopher James and Rebecca Sue. Jim and Anna divorced in December of 1976. In 1978 Jim met Micheline (Mickey) Courchaine. They married and have a daughter, Tisha. Jim and Mickey divorced in June of 1984. Jim met Willetta Lee in 1984. Willetta had two boys, Michael Lee, (wife Cynthia), and Travis Lee (wife Amanda). They joined their families in marriage on September 18th , 1986. Jim and Willetta lived a wonderful life together for over 40 years, she was and still is the love of his life.

Jim was preceded in death by his parents Bill and Ruth Whitehead, son Christopher James, brothers Ronald DeWayne and William Joesph, Sisters Cynthia Ann Towne, Shirley Ann Marck and Diana Fowler. He is survived by his wife Willetta Whitehead, Daughters Rebecca Carter and Tisha Whitehead, Sons Michael Lee, (Cynthia), Travis Lee (Amanda) Grandchildren, Kimberly, Nathan, Ashton, Alyssa, Tanner, Breanna, and Kaitlin.

Jim was a caring father who devoted most of his life to helping people. After the Navy he joined the Wichita Fire Department (1971) and spent 20 years as a public servant to the citizens of Wichita. He was awarded a letter of commendation in 1982 for saving the life of a woman from a house fire. Jim retired from the Fire Department in 1991 and became a safety manager for an environmental consulting company. In 1997 he went to work at Boeing Aircraft Company as a safety administrator. Jim was one of the founding members of the Mid-Continent Chapter of Certified Hazardous Materials Managers (CHMM) and a member of the American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE) and held several officer positions in these Organizations. His local chapter peers voted him Safety Professional of the Year in 1997.

Jim enjoyed woodworking and supported Willetta in her crafting adventures. They would complete projects together, with Willetta designing, Jim creating her vision using wood and metal and her painting the final creation. They would attend several craft shows through the early years to showcase their endeavors.

Education became an important part of life for Jim, initially starting while working on the Fire Department. Jim attended Wichita State University in 1975 and through perseverance and dedication, continued until graduating with a bachelor’s degree in 1990 and eventually earning a Master’s Degree in Management in 2000.

Jim also enjoyed fishing, hunting, dancing, watching wildlife and family life.

A memorial service will be held on Thursday, May 7, 2026 at 10:00 AM in the chapel at Hillside Funeral Home West, located at 2929 West 13th Street North, Wichita, KS 67203.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you donate in Jim's memory to the Kansas Firefighters Museum, online at https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=J7TFPB53KQUN4 or by mailing a check to 1300 S. Broadway St., Wichita, KS 67211.