Mr. James W. Whitt, age 83 of Tullahoma, passed away Friday, March 13, 2015 at Centennial Hospital in Nashville.
Memorial Services will be held Saturday, March 21 at 2 PM at the Daves-Culbertson Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Tom Murdock officiating.
Visitation with the family will be Saturday, March 21 from 12:00 PM until the service time.
Mr. Whitt, a native of Mt. Sterling, KY was the son of the late John Kelly and Lutie Reed Whitt.
He graduated from Mt. Sterling High School where he was a very active student, playing on the football team and being President of his senior class. During High School he wrote a poem titled, “Rain”, which was nationally published. He was a U S Navy Veteran, serving during the Korean War. He attended and graduated from the University of Kentucky with a degree in Electrical Engineering. He began his career working for Pratt & Whitney in West Palm Beach, FL. In the fall of 1962, he and his wife, Faye and their young daughter, Stacye relocated to Tullahoma, where he began work at AERO/Sverdrup. He was a Registered Professional Engineer and served as President of IEEE from 1978-1979. He was a member of the First Christian Church of Tullahoma.
Mr. Whitt enjoyed many hobbies and activities. In his younger days, he enjoyed playing tennis, sailing, swimming and diving. He also loved to read and research a variety of topics. He had a special interest in astronomy. Many people will remember meeting and visiting with Mr. Whitt at his wife’s restaurant, “The Stuffed Goose” in Tullahoma. He would come every day and help with the closing duties.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by one daughter, Anne Chatman Whitt; five brothers, Otto Vernon Whitt, Earl Gray Whitt, Paul Whitt, John Kelly Whitt Jr. and Charles Calvin Whitt and two sisters, Earsel Powell and Una Whitt.
Mr. Whitt is survived by his loving wife of almost 60 years, Faye Brown Whitt of Tullahoma; son, Andrew Clay Whitt and his wife, Aimee of Tullahoma; daughter, Stacye Reed Clark and her husband, Michael of Brentwood; five grandchildren, Spencer Conley Clark and his wife, Kayela of Mt. Pleasant, SC, Rachael Elizabeth Clark of Brentwood and Elizabeth Clay Whitt, Caroline Rowan Whitt and Sarah Wallace Hyde Whitt, all of Tullahoma; two great grandchildren, Charles Henry Clark and Katherine Lovell Clark and many nieces, nephews and loving friends.
In lieu of flowers, the family has requested donations be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, P O Box 1000, Dept 142, Memphis, TN. 38148-0142 or the First Christian Church, 120 West Grundy St, Tullahoma, TN 37388.
DAVES-CULBERSTON FUNERAL HOME IS IN CHARGE OF ARRANGEMENTS