OBITUARY: Bill Joe Whiting
Bill Joe Whiting, 78, former Carrier Mills and Harrisburg resident, passed peacefully to Heaven on Saturday, March 29, 2014.
Bill was surrounded by his loving family at his home in Winter Haven, Fla. Billy Joe was born on Nov. 13, 1935, in Carrier Mills to the late Loren and Zola (Parks) Whiting. Bill graduated from Carrier Mills High School in 1953. He later attended SIU where he was one of the four sharpshooters of the Air Force ROTC rifle team which took top honors over 26 teams throughout the country. Bill was a great outdoorsman. He captured snakes for the university's biology department and captured the largest king snake on record at that time.
Bill was united in matrimony to the former Jeanie Ritter on Dec. 22, 1956, at Carrier Mills First Baptist Church. The Lord blessed their marriage with the births of four precious sons: Perry, Mark, Scott and Paul. Bill worked as a finance officer at American General Finance Corporation for 36 years. Bill served as Finance Commissioner for the city of Harrisburg before moving his family from Southern Illinois to Winter Haven, Fla., in 1971. Bill is best known in that area as Captain Bill, an avid fisherman. Captain Bill was an early active member in the Winter Haven Lunker Lovers Bass Club. Bill held the position of the club president for multiple terms. He was also active in the Lake Region Sportsman's Club. Bill was one of three founding owners of the United Bass Fisherman organization that promoted a bass tournament trail throughout the Southeast. Captain Bill enjoyed fishing so much that he turned it into a fishing guide service over the next 30 years. Bill Whiting's Pro-Bass Guide Service provided countless happy memories to people from all around the world. Bill was also an avid deer, duck and turkey hunter. Bill currently held the record for the second largest Osceola turkey taken in Florida. He was a committee member of the Winter Haven Chapter of Ducks Unlimited. As much as Bill loved fishing and hunting, he had an even greater love for his family and friends. Bill was a loving husband, father, and Papaw to his precious grandchildren.
Bill is survived by his loving wife of 57 years, Jeanie (Ritter) Whiting; sons: Perry (Caroline) Whiting, Scott Whiting and Paul (Patty) Whiting all of Florida; and six grandchildren: Joshua, Victoria, Nicholas, Matthew, Erica and Zoie Whiting. Bill is also survived by a sister, Marcheta (Frank) Clore of Carrier Mills. Bill adored his nieces and nephews: Larry Clore and Marcy (Clore) Gillespie, both of Carrier Mills; Kenita (Whiting) Dudley and John Phillip Whiting, both of Stonefort. Bill will be greatly missed by family and friends.
Bill was preceded in death by his parents, Loren and Zola Whiting; a son, Mark Whiting; a sister, Maxine Whiting; and a brother, Freddie Whiting. Bill professed his faith as a believer in Jesus Christ and was a member of the First Baptist Church in Winter Haven. A memorial service to celebrate the life of Bill will be held on Friday, April 4 at the Crisp-Coon Funeral Home in Winter Haven. Visitation will begin at 3 p.m. preceding the service at 4 p.m. In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to Cornerstone Hospice (http://cshospice.orgforcontatc).