Gaylord L. Whiting

Gaylord L. Whiting, 91, of Fort Dodge, passed away in the comfort of his home on Sunday, December 18, 2011, surrounded by loved ones, after a brief illness. Memorial services will be held 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, December 22nd at Gunderson Funeral Chapel in Fort Dodge. Burial will be at the North Lawn Cemetery with full military honors conducted by the VFW Post #1856 and the 133rd Test Squadron Iowa Air Nation Guard. Visitation will be held from 4:00 - 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, December 21st and Masonic service at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Gunderson's Funeral Home and Cremation Services in Fort Dodge. Gaylord was born in Estherville, Iowa on June 28, 1920, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Frank Marvin Whiting. He moved with his parents to Fort Dodge at the age of 3. Gaylord attended Hawley and Wakonsa Elementary Schools in Fort Dodge, Iowa, and graduated from Fort Dodge Senior High School in 1938. After graduation and prior to entering the Military, Mr. Whiting worked as the Assistant Manager of the local A & P Grocery. He served during World War II, in the United States Army Air Corps with the 15th Air Force, 5th Wing, 49th Squadron, 2nd Bomb Group, 352 Bomb Squad, 301 G.R. He serve...[more]

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n Tunisia, Sicily, Naples and Foggie, Italy from July 1942 and was honorably discharged as a Staff Sergeant on September 29, 1945, earning 12 Battle Stars and 4 Presidential Citations. He was employed in the composing room at the Fort Dodge Messenger for nearly 40 years, retiring in 1985. Gaylord married Norma V. Von Stein on April 27, 1947 in Fort Dodge, Iowa, where they continued to live and raise their family. He is survived by his wife of 65 years (Norma), 2 sons and 2 daughters--Dr. Danny Whiting (and wife Cindy) of Sioux City, Iowa; Larry Whiting (and wife Shari) of LaVerkin, Utah; Patricia Friederich's (and her deceased husband, Tim) of Saint Bonifacius, Minnesota; and, Marcia Thornton (and husband Wally) of Lake Havasu City, Arizona. The couples have 8 grandchildren, 11 great grandchildren, and 5 step great grandchildren. He is preceded in death by his father and mother (Frank Marvin and Ethel Whiting), and his sister Frances Rabbitt of Fort Dodge, Iowa. Mr. Whiting was a long time member of the First United Methodist Church of Fort Dodge, the VFW, and was a Past Master Mason of the Blue Lodge of Fort Dodge and a member of the Zig-a-Zig Shrine. He will be forever remembered by those who loved him as a wonderful husband, father, teacher, provider, protector, and friend. Memorials in memory of Gaylord L. Whiting may be made to Hospice. Other gifts will be used at the discretion of the family.