H. "Fred" Frederick Whitney

H. Frederick "Fred" Whitney, Jr. age 101 of Copeland Oaks Retirement Community passed away on Saturday July 4, 2015, at Crandall Medical Center of congestive heart failure.  Mr. Whitney was born in Pulaski, New York on Feb. 4, 1914, the only son of Hugh F. and Edna Hill Whitney.  He was raised in a Christian home where he developed a love of learning and the value of caring for others.  He was a Chemical Engineering graduate of Syracuse University in 1936.  Following marriage in 1937 to Doris (Newton) Whitney, Fred was employed for 40 years by various affiliates of Standard Oil Company (NJ), retiring in 1976 from EXXON Research and Engineering Company.  He was involved in new product development work before and during World War II, and in product standardization programs in New Jersey and Baltimore, Maryland. Fred was consistently active in church, community, and family affairs.

Following retirement, Fred and his wife, Doris, spent 1977-1979 as Volunteers-In-Mission at Lees College in the hills of Kentucky.  They then lived in Cooperstown, NY for five years before moving to Sebring in 1985.

Mr. Whitney had been an active member and elder of the Sebring Presbyterian Church, member of the Chamber of Commerce, the Historical Society and past Director of The Concern.  In the 1990’s, Mr. Whitney had been President of Copeland Oaks Residents’ Association and resident chairman of the Mideast Region of the Association of Ohio Philanthropic Homes, Housing and Services for the Aging. In addition, when his wife founded and oversaw the Sebring Area Literacy Council, Fred became an active tutor, teaching adults basic reading skills.  They were both honored in 1994 as Sebring Citizens of the Year.  He had maintained an active interest in many church and Copeland affairs until shortly before his death. 

            Surviving are sons Kenneth and his wife Sandy, of Selma, North Carolina, and Frederick and his wife Ann, of N. Olmsted, Ohio, and a daughter, Rachel and her husband Jim, Lander, of Gaston, North Carolina, eleven grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren.  He was preceded in death by a son, William in 1998 and his wife, Doris, in 2004.

A memorial service will be held at 2:00 PM on Sunday July 12, 2015 at Copeland Oaks Bennett Chapel with Pastor Darren Lander officiating.  The family will greet friends following the service in the Williamsburg Room.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Sebring Presbyterian Church 525 N. 16th Street, Sebring, OH 44672 or Oaks Foundation at Copeland Oaks.  800 S. 15th Street, Sebring, OH 44672.  Arrangements are by Gednetz-Ruzek Funeral Home.  Friends may send condolences and sign the guest register online at www.grfuneralhome.com.

Fred" Whitney, Jr. age 101 of Copeland Oaks Retirement Community passed away on Saturday July 4, 2015, at Crandall Medical Center of Congestive Heart Failure.  Mr. Whitney was born in Pulaski, New York on Feb. 4, 1914, the only son of Hugh F. and Edna Hill Whitney.  He was raised in a Christian home where he developed a love of learning and the value of caring for others.  He was a Chemical Engineering graduate of Syracuse University in 1936.  Following marriage in 1937 to Doris (Newton) Whitney, Fred was employed for 40 years by various affiliates of Standard Oil Company (NJ), retiring in 1976 from EXXON Research and Engineering Company.  He was involved in new product development work before and during World War II, and in product standardization programs in New Jersey and Baltimore, Maryland. Fred was consistently active in church, community, and family affairs.

Following retirement, Fred and his wife, Doris, spent 1977-1979 as Volunteers-In-Mission at Lees College in the hills of Kentucky.  They then lived in Cooperstown, NY for five years before moving to Sebring in 1985.

Mr. Whitney had been an active member and elder of the Sebring Presbyterian Church, member of the Chamber of Commerce, the Historical Society and past Director of The Concern.  In the 1990’s, Mr. Whitney had been President of Copeland Oaks Residents’ Association and resident chairman of the Mideast Region of the Association of Ohio Philanthropic Homes, Housing and Services for the Aging. In addition, when his wife founded and oversaw the Sebring Area Literacy Council, Fred became an active tutor, teaching adults basic reading skills.  They were both honored in 1994 as Sebring Citizens of the Year.  He had maintained an active interest in many church and Copeland affairs until shortly before his death. 

            Surviving are sons Kenneth (Sandy) of Selma, North Carolina, and Frederick (Ann) of N. Olmsted, Ohio, and a daughter, Rachel (Jim) Lander, of Gaston, North Carolina, eleven grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren.  He was preceded in death by a son, William in 1998 and his wife, Doris, in 2004.

A memorial service will be held at 2:00 PM on Sunday July 12, 2015 at Copeland Oaks Bennett Chapel with Pastor Darren Lander officiating.  The family will greet friends following the service in the Williamsburg Room.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Sebring Presbyterian Church 525 N. 16th Street, Sebring, OH 44672 or Oaks Foundation at Copeland Oaks.  800 S. 15th Street, Sebring, OH 44672.  Arrangements are by Gednetz-Ruzek Funeral Home.  Friends may send condolences and sign the guest register online at www.grfuneralhome.com.

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