George William Whitten Sr.
Aged 95

George was born to William (Bill) Eugene Whitten and May Taylor Whitten in a cabin 6 miles west of Moffatt Co. on June 11 1920. He had two brothers Gene Whitten, Donald Whitten and one sister Virginia Whitten ( Sutherland). He grew up on the family ranch, attended Saguache School, class of 1939, and entered the United States Marine Corps in 1941. He fought in the Pacific Theatre and was on Midway Island during the Battle of Midway and continued on to fight in the battle of Iwo Jima and saw the raising of the American flag on Mt. Suribachi.

After the war he returned to the ranch to recover and in 1948 he married Grayce Fern Dieckman Sheets, who had four children from her first marriage: Buddie, Dee Ann, Crystal and Douglas. He built a house with hands and heart big enough to hold those children as well as the three more born to he and Grayce: George William Jr., Rebecca Jane (Hendrickson) and Donald Eugene.

He spent his life working the farm and ranch, raising fine Columbia range sheep while teaching all of the children the virtue of hard work and honesty in all things. Later in life he and Grayce spent many pleasant winters in their home in Tucson Az. where they made many friends and enjoyed square dancing and working on their house. He was a master at fixing almost anything, built several ham radios from scratch on which he talked to people all over the world as well as keeping the machinery running smoothly on the Ranch. They returned to the Valley each summer to assist with the ranch operation, where he raised alfalfa and worked in the hay fields until his 90th year when he decided to move into The Bridge in Alamosa to retire. He made many friends there as well.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Father, William 1960, and his Mother May in 1991; brother Gene in 1989, brother Donald in 1966; stepdaughter Dee Ann Sheets (Flemming) in 2005; his loving wife Grayce in 2006; and stepson Douglas Sheets in 2010.. He is survived by his 3 children, 2 stepchildren 7 grandchildren, 13 step grandchildren and numerous great and great great grandchildren.

His was a life well lived and he will be missed by all who knew him.

A graveside service will be held at Hillside Cemetery Tuesday, Febuary 16, in Sagauche Co. at 1:00 pm with a reception following at the Mason Hall on Main Street.

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