Clarence Wilbur Whitted

August 14, 1931 - September 3, 2023

Born August 14, 1931 in Grandview Idaho. Wilbur, as he was known for most of his life, was the third of six children born to Clarence and Edna Whitted.
At the age of 17, he joined the Navy and served as a Seaman aboard the destroyer USS Perkins.
The ship did a tour of the coast of China in 1949 and was involved in transferring foreign residents to Hong Kong when Communist forces took over Tsingtao.
In 1951 the ship and crew were stationed off the coast of Korea as gunfire support. In March of 1952, while the ship was in port in the US, Wilbur married his sweetheart, Doreen Overstreet.
After being discharged from the Navy in October of 1952, he returned to Idaho where he and Doreen started their lives together.
While he had only an 8th grade education, he was a man of many talents and abilities, much of them self-taught. He was always willing and interested in learning new skills.
He did many different jobs in his lifetime, but spent most of his working years as a welder in different mines in Nevada.
He was a kind man who was always willing to lend a hand to anyone in need.
He was an outdoorsman who loved hunting and fishing. He played men’s softball and coached a women’s team. Wilbur was also an artist with his hands.
He learned to braid rawhide into beautiful horse gear; he learned macramé while in the Navy and wove string into intricate and wonderful patters and designs.
In his later years, Wilbur took up golfing and bowling and had many wonderful friends in both those groups. Wilbur and Doreen celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary in March of 2022. With both of them in failing health, in May of 2022 they moved to Roseburg Oregon to live with their daughter and son-in-law. Sadly, Doreen passed away 2 months later.
Wilbur struggled with dementia for the last few years of his life but he still had his sense of humor right up to the very end.
He passed away on September 3rd, 2023. His ashes were interred with military honors in the Roseburg VA National Cemetery next to his wife.
On the day of the interment, the Patriot Guard riders (a volunteer veterans motorcycle group) provided escort to the cemetery.
Cody and Seth Whitted, along with Hannah and Macy as passengers, were privileged to ride their Harleys in the procession of the Patriot Guard.
Wilbur is survived by his daughter and son-in-law Patricia and Alan Gerharter. Grandson Matthew Gerharter and great-grandchildren Izabella, Xander, and Gracelyn. Grandson Cody Whitted and wife Mandi, great-grandchildren Seth, Hannah and Macy. Granddaughter Amanda Cailteux and great-grandchildren Meesha, Ryan, and Rayne.
Along with numerous nieces and nephews, Wilbur and Doreen were blessed to have so many wonderful friends. Both of them were deeply loved by family and friends alike and we miss them.