Earl Kenneth Whitman
Mar 27, 1931 - Jul 23, 2016
Posted by Janet Laubhan Flickinger
 

http://www.havenbrookfuneralhome.com/

Earl Whitman of Norman, 85, died on Saturday, July 23, 2016. A funeral mass will be held at St. Thomas More Church at 11:00 AM on Wednesday, July 27, 2016 with Rev. James Goins presiding.  

Born in Boston, Massachusetts in 1931 to Carroll and Jean Whitman, he graduated from Somerville High School where he played on championship baseball and basketball teams. He graduated from Northeastern University in 1955 with honors, and was commissioned as an Ensign in the US Navy. In June of 1956 he married Geraldine St. Cyr with whom he recently celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary. They had five children in six years and lived in nine states over their 20 years of naval service. During this time he received his MBA with distinction from the University of Michigan in 1964 and graduated from the Naval War College in 1967.

In 1975 the Whitmans moved to Norman where he served as Director of Purchasing for the University of Oklahoma, a position he held until his retirement in 1996. He served as President of the National Association of Educational Buyers, as well as regional president for the Purchasing Management Association.
As an active member of St. Thomas More University Parish, Earl served as a Eucharistic Minister, Lector, and on several Parish Committees. His work as treasurer of the St. Vincent de Paul Society helped provide assistance to needy families in the Norman area for many years.
He enjoyed running, walking with the dogs, and playing tennis with the “Ax” group. He and his wife, Gerry, took great pleasure in traveling much of the world, seeing new places and meeting new faces. Regular family outings to Lake Texoma and annual trips back to Massachusetts were times he cherished.

He is survived by his wife, Gerry, and their five children, Kathleen Whitman of Norman; David Whitman and his spouse Peter Stiglin of Sheffield, Massachusetts; Patricia Pemberton, her husband Mickey and grandson Shane of Pottsboro, Texas; Pamela Price, her husband Steve and grandchildren Megan and Christopher of Oklahoma City; Kenneth Whitman and grandchildren Sarah, Kristen, and Alicia of Dallas, Texas; a brother Allister, his wife Lorraine and nephew Douglas of Silver Springs, Maryland, as well as numerous relatives in the Boston area.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the St. Thomas More St. Vincent de Paul Society.

Thank You For Your Service!