Rev. George T. Whitney, 82

Rev. George T. Whitney met his Savior and Lord Jesus the Christ, March 7, 2026. George Thompson Whitney was born March 12, 1943, i n S eattle, W ash., t o M ildred E lizabeth Thompson Whitney and Gale Quinton Whitney. A m ajority o f h is y outh w as s pent i n Ainsworth. He graduated from Ainsworth High School in 1961. He attended the University of Nebraska at Kearney, graduating with a BA in Education in January of 1966. He taught school and coached in Randolph at both Randolph St. Frances Catholic high school and Randolph Public high school. In June of 1974 he went to work for Old Northwest Agents, Inc. as a sales associate and eventually became a district manager. H e m oved t o M issouri i n 1 977 t o e stablish a n ew s ales territory there as the district manager. He retired from Old Northwest Agents in 1997 and finally accepted his call into the ministry. George was in the United Methodist tradition and he began attending Eden Theological Seminary in St. Louis while simultaneously serving as the pastor of Elsberry United Methodist Church. He graduated from Eden Theological Seminary in 2001 with a Master of Divinity degree. He w as ordained Elder i n t he U nited M ethodist t radition i n M ay o f 2003. In Missouri, he served churches in Elsberry, Wright City, Bellefontaine Neighbors, and later in retirement, Eagle Rock. He r etired f rom t he m inistry i n M arch o f 2008 a nd h e a nd his ministry partner, wife June, moved to Hot Springs Village, Ark. The retirement did not last long. He began serving Manchester United Methodist Church in rural Arkadelphia for five years, then began serving as pastor of New Salem United Methodist Church in rural Hot Springs for four years and Gardner United Methodist Church in Hot Springs for three years. He was preceded in death by his parents and grandparents, and his only sibling, brother Grant. He is survived by his wife June of Hot Springs Village; daughter Michelle and husband Gary Chance; daughter Kimberly and husband Chris Noil; daughter Angela and husband Wesley Middleton; daughter Gayle and husband Travis; son Neil and wife Heidi; and step-son John and friend Ange. Also surviving are 19 grandchildren and numerous great-grandchildren.