Kern County CA Obituary Project Obituaries.....Whitson, Leroy  February 14, 2005
**********************************************************
Copyright. All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://www.usgwarchives.net/obits/obitsca/obitsca.htm
**********************************************************

File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
K T bluewolf@onemain.com February 20, 2005, 12:04 pm

The Bakersfield Californian 
Leroy Whitson
6/28/1937 - 2/14/2005

Leroy Whitson was born June 28, 1937 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Leroy grew up 
on an 800-acre dairy and cotton farm in Arizona with an extended family. Leroy 
worked hard on the farm with Gary, Mary, Barbara, Betty and Sally. He was 
proud of the farm and what he contributed to it, it was his life. Leroy 
attended Buckeye Union High School and was very active in the Future Farmers 
of America. He graduated in 1955 and was the class valedictorian. He then went 
to Arizona State University where he was Vice President of Student Activities. 
He graduated with a B.S. in Animal and Farm management from Arizona State 
University in 1959. 

Leroy was in the Air National Guard for 6 years, 11 months of which he spent 
on active duty overseas for the Berlin call up. He came to California in the 
early sixties to pursue his career starting at Security Pacific National Bank 
as a management trainee for agriculture loans. Leroy then went to work for 
Production Credit Association (PCA) in Wasco, CA and quickly moved up the 
ranks eventually becoming vice president in charge of agriculture credit/loans 
in Bakersfields head office in 1979. He retired from PCA after forty years of 
service.

Leroy married in 1962 to Sandra Stafford and they had twin boys (Greg and 
Mike) in 1968, which filled his life with joy. Leroy was also blessed with a 
beautiful granddaughter, Ariana Whitson, in 1992. She captured a piece of his 
heart that was indescribable.

Leroy was a part of the Wasco Rose Festival Board and his boys got to actually 
ride on the floats during the parades. Leroy was also active in the Wasco 
Active 20-30 Club for eight years and was President in 1968. Leroy and Sandy 
were separated in 1975. Leroy remarried in 1978 to Wilma Lackey. They were 
happily married for 23 years until her unfortunate passing in late 2000.

Leroy had two incredible friends for life that he spoke of often. King Cooper 
who he went to school and signed up for the service with and Alvin Teixeira 
whom he met in Wasco during his career. These two friends meant the world to 
him. Leroy worked hard throughout his life and was very proud of his family 
and his accomplishments. Leroy had the ultimate pure love from the heart for 
all of his family near and far. Leroy has gone to a better place now but he 
will stay in our hearts and thoughts forever. 


Additional Comments:
Volunteer submission - No relation to deceased.

File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/ca/kern/obits/gob5778whitson.txt

This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/caobfiles/

File size: 3.1 Kb