Lt. Col. John A. Whitley's Obituary
Lieutenant Colonel (Retired) John A. Whitley, born March 4, 1947, passed away peacefully in the comfort of his home in Tucson, AZ on December 1, 2017.
John was born in West Point, GA. His family moved to Lakeland, FL where he spent most of his school years before returning to Georgia and graduating from West Point High School in 1967. While in high school, John met the love of his life, Penny Rosselle. John and Penny married on June 3, 1967. Together they devoted their lives to faithful service to God, country, and family.
John’s story of faith began under the godly influence of his mother who ensured the family were active members of their local church. At the age of nine, under the strong influence of his pastor and Sunday school teachers, he realized his need for a savior and publically committed his life to Jesus Christ. John was baptized in Lake Hunter in Lakeland, FL later that year. He honored that commitment by remaining an active member of a local church his entire life and was ordained as a deacon of Temple Baptist Church in Little Stukeley, England. For the last 23 years John and Penny have been members at Casas Adobes Church and the Joint Heirs Adult Bible Fellowship.
John dedicated 30 years of his life serving his country in the United States Air Force. John was sworn into the USAF on June 14, 1967. John began his military career as a noncommissioned officer for ten years before becoming commissioned as an officer. He served as a jet engine mechanic, a recruiter, and aircraft maintenance officer. He exemplified leadership as an A-10 maintenance squadron commander. John earned his B.A. from Columbia University and his M.B.A. from Webster University. His military career took John and Penny to multiple assignments including: Fairchild AFB, WA, Eglin AFB, FL, Chin Chang Kong Air Base Taiwan, Mountain Home AFB, ID, Moody AFB, GA, and Patrick AFB FL, Royal Air Force Lakenheath, England, Robins AFB, GA, England AFB, LA, Royal Air Force Base Alconbury, England, Tinker AFB, OK, and Davis-Monthan AFB, AZ.
John is a Vietnam veteran who served a temporary duty in Saigon. John also served in Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm where he was awarded the Bronze Star for his is leadership at King Fahd Air Base, Saudi Arabia. Other military decorations awarded to John include the Meritorious Service Medal with three oak clusters and the Air Force Commendation Medal with one device.
Upon retirement from military service in 1997, John began a second career at Evergreen Air Center (now known as Marana Aerospace Solutions), first as Production Controller and Planner and later as a Recruiter in the Human Resource department.
While his military service was of high value to John, his family remained his highest priority. John and Penny raised five children and exemplified devotion to both their immediate and extended family. John had a love of classic cars, a reflection of his devotion to heritage, and though he raised his family around the world, he always maintained his southern gentleman charm.
John is survived by his wife of 50 years, Penny Rosselle Whitley: four of his children, John Whitley III (Elizabeth) of Knoxville, TN, Julie Apel (Jeremy) of Austin ,TX, Tony Whitley (Selena) of Warner Robins, GA, Stephen Whitley (Andrea) of Marana, AZ, and 17 deeply loved grandchildren: Justin, Collin, Cole, James-Austin, Hudson, Jonah, Brayden, Joell, Bristol, Hope, Vontae, AJ, Malorie Kate, Manny, Eli, Theo, and John IV. He is also survived by his brother, Julius Whitley of Griffin, GA and his sisters Juanita Diane Jordan, Jean Spears, and Ann Shaw, all of Lakeland, FL.
John was preceded in death by his son Jed Whitley, brothers Doug Whitley, Charles Whitley, Robbie Sinclair, and his parents Willard and Juanita Sinclair.
Services will be held Friday, December 8, 2017 at 2:00 pm in the Barrier Chapel at Casas Church, 10801 N. La Cholla Blvd., Oro Valley, AZ 85742. In lieu of flowers the family requests donations to the El Rio Community Health Center Foundation at 839 West Congress Tucson, AZ 85745 or elrio.org/donate.
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