Philip Dean Whiting

Philip Dean Whiting, 85, of Jacksonville passed away on Saturday, July 7, 2018. Phil was the 6th of 10 children born to Harry A. and Grace Swackhammer Whiting of Sterling Run, Pennsylvania. 

Phil and his four brothers all honorably served their country spanning World War II through Vietnam. Phil served 21 years in the USAF. He was selected for language training at the University of Indiana, which resulted in an assignment as a Hungarian linguist during the Cold War. Phil’s skills as a linguist resulted in location to Army bases as well as Air Force Bases. Assignments included locations such as Bad Soden and Munich. A brief interval back in the US saw a stint at Ft. Belvoir, Virginia. In 1962, he was assigned to a unit in Munich, Germany, and later, the United States Military Liaison Mission in Potsdam then in East Germany. In March, 1968, Phil was awarded The Army Commendation Medal for meritorious service as an operations Sergeant Major with the USMLM in Potsdam. After four years in Berlin, he was assigned to Little Rock Air Force Base in Jacksonville, AR. After leaving the Air Force, Phil embarked on a second 21-year career for the U.S. Postal Service. Phil lived his life with joy and great energy. Always an avid outdoorsman, he grew up hunting and fishing in Pennsylvania, and continued those activities into his retirement years. After his family, golf was perhaps his greatest love, and he passed his love of golf as a legacy to his children and grandchildren.

He is survived by his beloved wife of 65 years, Rachel Rumberger Whiting and his two sons, William A. Whiting (Mary) of Monticello, AR and Stephen B. Whiting (Donna) of North Little Rock, AR; grandsons Will Whiting of Austin, TX and Matt Whiting (Johannah) of Conway, AR, Sam Probasco (Alison) of Fayetteville, AR, and granddaughter, Susan Probasco of Little Rock, AR; great grandson, Camden Whiting and great granddaughter, Peyton Probasco. Phil is also survived by brothers Richard Whiting (Mary Beth) of Warren, PA; Stanley Whiting (Meg) of Emporium, PA; and Harry A. Whiting (Paula) of Webster, NY.

 He was preceded in death by sisters Betty Zidar Sandrovich, Beryl Hazen, Stella Kane, Margaret Woolslayer, Enid Ball, and brothers, Alvin Whiting and Ted Whiting. Phil is survived by a great host of nieces, nephews and other loving family and friends.

Visitation will be Thursday, July 12, from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. at Moore’s Funeral Home on Wright Loop Road in Jacksonville. 

 Funeral Services will be at 1:30 p.m. on Friday, July 13 at Moore’s Funeral Home.

 Internment will be at a later date in Sterling Run, Pennsylvania. 

The family suggests a donation to the Wounded Warrior Project or Hospice Home Care Inpatient Center, 2200 South Bowman Road, Little Rock, AR 72211. 

Honorary pallbearers will be Lew Cotton, Wally Waddell, Steve Metzer, Jim Morton, Jim Rouse, and Bill Metzer.

 Arrangements entrusted to Moore’s Jacksonville Funeral Home (501) 982-2136. 

Online guestbook: www.mooresjacksonvillefuneralhome.com