Robert Floyd Whitten

Robert "Bob" Floyd Whitten, 92, of Ocean Park, Washington died peacefully on Wednesday, June 4th, 2014. Born to Mark and Bessie Whitten in Aurora, Missouri on April 24, 1922, the family quickly made their home in Long Beach, Washington. As a boy, Bob enjoyed exploring and racing on his horse "Peaches." As a teen, he worked seining salmon from the Columbia River with a team of work horses. Before graduating from Ilwaco High School in 1940, he helped put the finishing touches on Hilltop School by installing all of the coat hooks with a screwdriver. Marrying Jane Agnes Pearson on January 9th, 1942, Bob worked for the US Army Corp of Engineers as a tug boat operator before joining the United States Navy. Stationed in Tillamook, Oregon during WWII, Bob convinced a pilot to fly him through a fog bank to Astoria for the birth of his treasured daughter, Joy Anita in 1943. After his honorable discharge in 1945 as a Boatswain's Mate Second Class, Bob and Jane returned to Ocean Park where he followed in his father in-laws footsteps ultimately becoming a U.S. Postmaster. After 36 total years of combined military and civilian government service, Bob retired in 1977 at age 55. Dedicated to his community, Bob served on the Bishop's Committee of St. Peter's Episcopal Church, was a leader of a Sea Scouts group, a member of the Ocean Park School Board, and served as a Pacific County Planning Commissioner. Having joined the Ocean Park Volunteer Fire Department in 1947, he served as fire chief from 1974 to 1981. Bob loved the water and enjoyed operating a charter fishing boat and gardening during his retirement, but most of all he enjoyed the time he spent tending to his three granddaughters. He was honored to have them marry loving husbands that he knew would adore them as he did. Bob is survived by his wife, Jane, of 72 years; daughter, Joy Weber, of Ocean Park; three granddaughters, Janet (Daryl) Swensen, Elaine (Gregory) McMillan, and Marilyn (Brian) Sheldon; and six great-grandchildren, Eric and Emily McMillan, Jebadiah, Estella and Ione Sheldon, and Julian Swensen. A brief service will be held on Wednesday, June 11th at 4pm at Penttila's Chapel by The Sea in Seaview, Washington. Graveside rites follow at Ocean Park Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions be made in his memory to charities of ones choice. His guestbook is available at www.penttilaschapel.com.