John Whitener, Jr.

OZARK… Mr. John Whitener, Jr. (CW3, United States Army, Retired), a resident of Ozark, died Wednesday evening, April 24, 2024, at his home. He was 95.

            Funeral services will be held at 10:00 A.M. Wednesday, May 1, 2024, in Ridgecrest Baptist Church with Reverend Dr. Scott E. Thompson, Reverend Jim Hill, Mr. Bobby Waters, and his son, John Whitener, III officiating. Graveside services, with full military honors, will follow in Woodlawn Memory Gardens. The family will receive friends from 9:00 until 10:00 A.M. Wednesday at the church. Fuqua Bankston Funeral Home of Ozark is in charge of arrangements.

            Flowers will be accepted, or memorial contributions may be made to Go To Nations, P.O. Box 10305-0305, Jacksonville, Florida 32247.

            Mr. Whitener, son of the late John Newton Whitener and Ethel Emily Underwood Whitener, was a native of Bessville, Missouri. Following high school, he joined the United States Army. He retired from the United States Army with the rank of Chief Warrant Officer 3, after twenty years of service, and had served in the Vietnam War and Korean War. Mr. Whitener was an instructor pilot after the military before becoming a Prudential Life Insurance Agent, where he retired after twenty-five years of employment. He was a member of Ridgecrest Baptist Church, where he served as a Deacon, served in the choir and was a Sunday school teacher. Mr. Whitener was preceded in death by his wives, Anne Omera Whitener and Juanita Tidwell Whitener; a daughter, Coleen Robinette and a brother, William “Bill” Whitener.

            Surviving relatives include his daughter, Jennifer J. Blue and her husband, Rick (SMSgt., United States Air Force, Retired), Enterprise; son, John Whitener, III., and his wife, Judy, Missionaries to Mexico with Go To Nations; his brother, James Whitener, St. Louis, Missouri; three grandchildren, Abigail Brock and husband, Charlie, Jason Burgess, and Beth Kirkland; two great-grandchildren, Hayden Dugger and husband, John, and Hannah Burns; two great-great grandchildren, Avery Dugger and Evelyn Burns; nieces and nephews.

            Serving as active pallbearers will be John Whitener, III, Rick Blue, Charles Ward, Bobby Waters, Jason Burgess, and Charlie Brock.

            The family would like to thank his neighbor, Mr. Ed Peters, who was always faithful to visit, caregiver, Lynda Dean for her loving care, Gentiva Hospice, for their care, love, and support, and to Dr. Chris Miller and staff of Fairview Clinic.