Dean WHITMAN

McMinnville resident and Alabama native Dean Whitman, age 81, was born January 28, 1930 and died January 14, 2012 at River Park Hospital following an extended illness. A lumber worker, United States Army veteran and member of the Baptist Church, he was the son of the late Dean and Clara Belle Muncey Whitman. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by one son, Eddie Dean Whitman; daughter, Kathleen Whitman; two brothers, James and Carl Whitman; sister, Gertrude Neal and grandson, Michael Betts. He was married June 24, 1975 to "Bea" Whitman of McMinnville. In addition to his wife, he is survived by two sons and daughter-in-law, Michael and Pat Combs of McMinnville and John Combs of Whiteville, TN; five daughters and sons-in-law, Terri Ruggiero and Becki Glazier both of Ohio, Michelle and David Betts of Murfreesboro, TN, Melissa and David Brown of Smithville, TN and Rebecca and Delane Thomas of Hillsboro, TN; brother, Howard Whitman of McMinnville; five sisters and brothers-in-law, Sue and Richard Manis of Painesville, OH, Georgia and Jack Trosky and Linda and Jimmy Gooch both of McMinnville; Christine Turner of Smyrna, TN and Mary Smith of Rock Island, TN; twelve grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. Funeral service was held at 11:00 a.m. Monday, January 16, 2012 in High's Chapel with Sid Stanton officiating. Burial followed in the Crain Hill Cemetery in Van Buren County, TN with full military honors administered by the VFW Post 5064 and American Legion Post 173.