Gerald Allen Whitton was born in Fort Wayne Indiana, Feb. 28, 1938. He died November 5, 2023, of natural causes. His parents were Paul David Whitton, and Esther Fern Zegafuse. He had two brothers Robert and Doyle Whitton.
He was a hard worker starting at age 9 setting pins in a bowling alley. He later worked at the YMCA and then caddying at the local golf course. He eventually earned enough money to buy a 1950 Chevrolet. He drove that car to BYU in 1957 with friends and started college where he earned a Bachelor’s degree in Math and Psychology.
He married Janice Barnes on August 18, 1961. They lived in Ogden, Utah where he taught school at Washington Jr. High and Ben Lomond High school. In 1963 Jerry and Janice moved to Salt Lake City, where he went to work for Hugh Barnes Heating and Electric. He learned construction skills that allowed him to get a contractors license and a gas fitters license. He used those skills to build three duplexes and a home. He left the heating business after a few years and started working for the US Government at the North Ogden Depot. The government job eventually led to a position in South Korea, and later at Subic Bay, Philippines where he was DRMO Chief. He was also Chief at the Tooele Army Depot and then DRMO chief in Fairbanks, Alaska where he retired in 2000. DRMO is the government branch that disposes of obsolete equipment and he called himself a junk man. Gerald loved numbers and excelled in making graphs to show how the sales and products he worked with had positive or negative growth. He also had a voracious appetite for reading, especially about the early history of the USA and founding fathers of the country.
Gerald loved traveling and driving. He took camping trips with his family to many places in Utah, California, Oregon, Washington, Colorado and Montana. Many times he included his Mother so she would be able to see the West. He also had the opportunity to run the Green river and actually be an oarsman on one of the trips with his wife’s uncle, Erschel Shepherd who was a guide on the Green River.
He joined the National Guard to fulfill his military duty. In the last part of his required time and at the age of 39, he went to Fort Benning Georgia and took paratrooper training to become part of the Airborne Division at Camp Williams, Utah. He made 25 jumps with the last jump leaving him with a badly dislocated knee. However, he was determined not to let it stop him. He road many miles on his bike, and ran in several Midnight Sun 10K races while in Fairbanks, Alaska. One summer in Fairbanks he walked over 1,000 miles around town, picking up bolts, screws and gas caps off the streets. He loved to fish for salmon at Prince William Sound in Alaska. He said he had caught his share of salmon when he reached 100.
Gerald was very proud of his children and their accomplishments with their careers and lives. They all earned degrees in their chosen fields and are doing very well. He sponsored a female Korean student, Biya Han, who lived with his family for two years while attending the University of Utah. Byia has also achieved major accomplishments with her life.
Gerald is survived by his wife Janice of 62 years, his children –Lori (Urs Troesch), Kellie Su, David Paul ( Kara Bartling), and Gary Allen Whitton. He has four grand children and 3 great grand children.
He was preceded in death by his parents and his two brothers.
In lieu of flowers contributions may be made to Shriner’s Children’s Hospital.
A viewing for Gerald Whitton will be held Saturday, November 11, 2023, from 1-3PM at the Larkin Sunset Gardens Mortuary located at 1950 East 10600 South, Sandy, UT 84092. Please visit Gerald’s obituary page at www.larkinmortuary.com