Obituary for Kendall Wayne Whittington
Funeral services for Kendall Wayne Whittington, age 67 years, of Medford, are 2:00 pm, Saturday, January 2, 2021 at Ladusau-Evans Funeral Home with Pastor Jerol Williams officiating. Burial will follow in Hennessey Cemetery under the direction of Ladusau-Evans Funeral Home.
Kendall Wayne Whittington passed away in the arms of his wife Shirlene (Squirrel) with his children at Baptist Integris Hospital in Oklahoma City on December 22, 2020. He lost his battle from complications due to heart surgery. He was 67 when he left this earth for the gates of Heaven.
Kendall was born January 31, 1953 in Enid, Oklahoma. He was the son of Reverend John F. Whittington and Josephine Minton. As an army brat he attended many different schools across the nation. This diversity allowed his friendly personality to grow. Kendall never met a stranger, everyone who knew him was blessed with his friendly ornery disposition. In school, he excelled in band and was an active member of the DeMolay. He graduated from Enid High in 1971.
After graduation he worked in oilfields and custom harvest. He was a lifelong student. This was evident from the schools he attended and the wisdom he shared with others. He attended Northern Oklahoma College and Oklahoma State University in Stillwater. There are several pictures of his performance in plays for the schools. Kendall graduated from St. Mary’s school of Radiology in Enid in 1978.
He took great pride in his work and was obviously called to his profession. He worked for 42 years doing what he loved and was still working until the day of his surgery. Kendall has always been a wonderful and skilled Radiographer. He was informative, patient, warm, and an endless source of optimism. His patients knew how extraordinary he was and how far he went to care for them. He would make bird noises to children to calm them before their x-rays. He never reacted to their anxiety and was always soothing and calming to his patients. His patients received professional, warm attention for the entire time he was with them. He treated each and every patient as he wanted to be treated.
Kendall married the love of his life, Shirlene (Squirrel) on the island of Kauai where she was raised. There are many who would relate how much he loved her. He loved to tell coworkers Squirrel stories and how lucky he was that she agreed to marry him. In 2008 Kendall became the Director of Radiology for Integris Health care system at their Blackwell hospital location and re-located to Medford, OK where he bought a 160-acre farm with his wife Shirlene. This nurtured his love of family, nature and healthcare in one place that he called home.
Kendall’s other big passion was his farm. He had been farming since he was 6 years old with his grandfather Oscar Knight Minton in Bison, OK. Kendall revived his grandfather’s family brand for the farm in Medford, OK. His greatest joy was to drive the tractor from one area to another. He had a way to make the tractor seem to dance. For many years he served as a Board member for the Grant County Fair to share his expertise for the industry of farming.
His peaceful moments were working the cattle and horses as well as farming the land with his wife Shirlene and son in law Basil. He always said it was a great joy when the grandkids came to the farm and would ride around in the tractor with him, ride the horses, and get involved with the calves. Farming was in Kendall’s blood and one of the biggest loves of his life.
Kendall was a gentle, kind spirit with a big heart. Always the social butterfly, Kendall was friendly and felt comfortable in a crowd. His passion for farming and Radiology was only outdone by the love he had for his wife, his children, his grandchildren, and the rest of his family and close friends. They will tell you he never had a bad day, always so full of life, was always looking out for others, listening and mentoring, and giving his signature smile or laugh. All who knew him felt his influence. In a world where so much negative abounds, he did not find much fault with the people and places around him. The impact he had on others will live on forever and he will be greatly missed by all he leaves behind.
Survivors include his wife Shirlene (Squirrel) of the residence; His mother Josephine Whittington of Enid Ok, Father in law Claude Montgomery of Comanche OK, daughters: Jennifer and husband Chris Gibson of Dale, OK, Carolyn and husband Basil Helt of Medford, OK; Kimberly and husband Jeremy Griggs of Atoka, OK; Melia and Cathy Sakimura of San Lorenzo, CA; sons Ken and wife Hillary Whittington of Shawnee, OK; T.J. and wife Rebecca of Piedmont, OK; Michael of Antioch, CA. Brother’s Larry and wife Dee Whittington of Flagstaff, AZ; Brother Jack Whittington of Midwest City, OK; Sister’s Bertie and husband Steve Holiday of Enid, OK; Sister Becky and husband Harold Noell of Enid, OK.
Grandchildren include: Justice, Zaley and Journey Gibson; Nolan and Oliver Whittington; Payton, Cory and Kyle Helt; Landon Holland; Athena Boston; Abel Griggs; Jett and Jagger McLearen; Desiree and Lyra Sakimura. There are many extended families as well as those that he loved and stayed in touch with.
He is preceded in death by his father Reverend John Whittington and Sister Deborah Hamm.
Condolences may be made and services viewed online at www.ladusauevans.com.
Kendall Wayne Whittington passed away in the arms of his wife Shirlene (Squirrel) with his children at Baptist Integris Hospital in Oklahoma City on December 22, 2020. He lost his battle from complications due to heart surgery. He was 67 when he left this earth for the gates of Heaven.
Kendall was born January 31, 1953 in Enid, Oklahoma. He was the son of Reverend John F. Whittington and Josephine Minton. As an army brat he attended many different schools across the nation. This diversity allowed his friendly personality to grow. Kendall never met a stranger, everyone who knew him was blessed with his friendly ornery disposition. In school, he excelled in band and was an active member of the DeMolay. He graduated from Enid High in 1971.
After graduation he worked in oilfields and custom harvest. He was a lifelong student. This was evident from the schools he attended and the wisdom he shared with others. He attended Northern Oklahoma College and Oklahoma State University in Stillwater. There are several pictures of his performance in plays for the schools. Kendall graduated from St. Mary’s school of Radiology in Enid in 1978.
He took great pride in his work and was obviously called to his profession. He worked for 42 years doing what he loved and was still working until the day of his surgery. Kendall has always been a wonderful and skilled Radiographer. He was informative, patient, warm, and an endless source of optimism. His patients knew how extraordinary he was and how far he went to care for them. He would make bird noises to children to calm them before their x-rays. He never reacted to their anxiety and was always soothing and calming to his patients. His patients received professional, warm attention for the entire time he was with them. He treated each and every patient as he wanted to be treated.
Kendall married the love of his life, Shirlene (Squirrel) on the island of Kauai where she was raised. There are many who would relate how much he loved her. He loved to tell coworkers Squirrel stories and how lucky he was that she agreed to marry him. In 2008 Kendall became the Director of Radiology for Integris Health care system at their Blackwell hospital location and re-located to Medford, OK where he bought a 160-acre farm with his wife Shirlene. This nurtured his love of family, nature and healthcare in one place that he called home.
Kendall’s other big passion was his farm. He had been farming since he was 6 years old with his grandfather Oscar Knight Minton in Bison, OK. Kendall revived his grandfather’s family brand for the farm in Medford, OK. His greatest joy was to drive the tractor from one area to another. He had a way to make the tractor seem to dance. For many years he served as a Board member for the Grant County Fair to share his expertise for the industry of farming.
His peaceful moments were working the cattle and horses as well as farming the land with his wife Shirlene and son in law Basil. He always said it was a great joy when the grandkids came to the farm and would ride around in the tractor with him, ride the horses, and get involved with the calves. Farming was in Kendall’s blood and one of the biggest loves of his life.
Kendall was a gentle, kind spirit with a big heart. Always the social butterfly, Kendall was friendly and felt comfortable in a crowd. His passion for farming and Radiology was only outdone by the love he had for his wife, his children, his grandchildren, and the rest of his family and close friends. They will tell you he never had a bad day, always so full of life, was always looking out for others, listening and mentoring, and giving his signature smile or laugh. All who knew him felt his influence. In a world where so much negative abounds, he did not find much fault with the people and places around him. The impact he had on others will live on forever and he will be greatly missed by all he leaves behind.
Survivors include his wife Shirlene (Squirrel) of the residence; His mother Josephine Whittington of Enid Ok, Father in law Claude Montgomery of Comanche OK, daughters: Jennifer and husband Chris Gibson of Dale, OK, Carolyn and husband Basil Helt of Medford, OK; Kimberly and husband Jeremy Griggs of Atoka, OK; Melia and Cathy Sakimura of San Lorenzo, CA; sons Ken and wife Hillary Whittington of Shawnee, OK; T.J. and wife Rebecca of Piedmont, OK; Michael of Antioch, CA. Brother’s Larry and wife Dee Whittington of Flagstaff, AZ; Brother Jack Whittington of Midwest City, OK; Sister’s Bertie and husband Steve Holiday of Enid, OK; Sister Becky and husband Harold Noell of Enid, OK.
Grandchildren include: Justice, Zaley and Journey Gibson; Nolan and Oliver Whittington; Payton, Cory and Kyle Helt; Landon Holland; Athena Boston; Abel Griggs; Jett and Jagger McLearen; Desiree and Lyra Sakimura. There are many extended families as well as those that he loved and stayed in touch with.
He is preceded in death by his father Reverend John Whittington and Sister Deborah Hamm.
Condolences may be made and services viewed online at www.ladusauevans.com.