Wayne Whitener

MARBLE HILL, Mo. -- Wayne Whitener of Marble Hill passed away at his home Monday, Nov. 19, 2007.

Born in Arab, Mo., he was the son of Arthur Sylvester and Sarah Elizabeth Cullison Whitener. He married Mardella Wagner in Nappanie, Ind., in 1957. She preceded him in death in January 1978. On June 28, 1981, he married Marilyn Nenninger Jansen in Bossier City, La.

Wayne worked in the rental car business most of his life. He retired as a manager with National Car Rental Co. in Shreveport, La., in 1995. In 1996 he returned to Bollinger County, where he was involved in many community activities. He was elected in 2000 for the position of Bollinger County associate commissioner.

He was very active with Patton Lions Club and VFW Post 5900, served as an alderman for the city of Marble Hill and as a park board member, volunteered with Marble Hill Food Pantry, Senior Center Meals on Wheels and was a member and past president of Bollinger County Chamber of Commerce.

Whitener was a member of St. John Catholic Church at Leopold, Mo., and a 4th Degree member of Knights of Columbus Council 5898.

He served in the U.S. Air Force from January 1955 through November 1958.

Along with his wife, he is survived by three sons, Steven Wayne Whitener of San Diego, Bradley Dale (Nancy) Whitener and Paul Allen Whitener both of Memphis, Tenn.; and a daughter, Barbara June Whitlow of Brentwood, Tenn.; five stepchildren, Roberta Jansen, Bobby (Kristi) Jansen, Jackie (Ron) Brown and Caroline (Tony) Gemeinhardt all of Leopold, Kim (Jim) Sands of Parker, Colo.; a brother, Warren Whitener of Seattle; three sisters, Mary Johnson of Asheville, N.C., Ida May Arnold of Fenton, Mo., and Oweeta Kloessner of St. Louis; seven grandchildren; a great-grandchild; and 10 stepgrandchildren.

He was preceded in death by two sisters, a brother and a stepgrandchild.

Visitation will be from 9 to 9:45 a.m. Friday at St. John Catholic Church in Leopold.

A memorial Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Friday with the Rev. Bill Huggins officiating and the Rev. Gerald Huff eulogizing. A military honor guard service by VFW Post 5900 will be held at Baker Cemetery near Marble Hill following the church service.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society or to the Wayne Cemetery Fund.