Born in Lewiston, April 20, 1947, the son of J. Paul and Adrienne Whitten. He attended Lewiston High School, class of 1965.
Mr. Whitten served in the United States Navy and was honorably discharged in 1970. After his discharge, he served in the United States Navy Seabees reverse unit (RNMCB-27) in Brunswick Naval Air Base until his retirement in 1995, serving for a total of 27 years. While in the Seabees, he earned the Navy Achievement Medal as Chief Petty Officer along with 12 other medals.
Mr. Whitten attended the Culinary Art Institute of America and graduated with high honors in 1972. His culinary career included working for Ambassador, Mr. Winthrop W. Aldrich, various restaurants, retirement homes, and finally retiring in 2012 from the Spectrum Generations at the Cohen Center in Hallowell. During his time at the Cohen Center, he introduced and implemented a new system of packaging for the Meals on Wheels Program for the elderly which is still used today throughout the state of Maine. Throughout his career he made many friends with whom he still corresponded with.
During his time in college, Mr. Whitten competed in the Italian wine tasting contest which was held at the Italian Consulate in New York. Mr. Whitten competed against various colleges across America. He came in 2nd place.
Mr. Whitten was a former member of the Elks in Lewiston, the Past Time club, the Eagles in Lewiston, the Webber Avenue club in Lewiston, and a third-degree member of the Knights of Columbus. He was also a past member of the United Commercial Travelers Association and the Food Service Executives Assoc, National Restaurant Assoc, and was highly recognized by the Kennebec Journal on June 13, 2004.
Mr. Whitten was also mentioned by the Lewiston Sun Journal for his expertise in his wild game processing business known as Whitten’s Custom Deer Cutting. The business operated for over 40 years with his sons, daughter, wife, and grandchildren. His customers ranged from as far north as Canada and as far south as Rhode Island.
Mr. Whitten enjoyed hunting and fishing, while his pride was dancing, in which he and his wife won first place in a contest for the jitterbug and jive.
He is survived by his lovely wife, Marlene, of 52 years, his three children, Jason Whitten of Sabattus, Kevin Whitten of Lisbon, and Marcie Whitten of Lisbon. Mr. Whitten also leaves behind his five grandchildren, Hannah Lelansky, Nicholas Burtis, Cole Whitten, Brianna Ridley, and Skyler Ridley and his great-grandson, Colton Whitten. Each grandchild has a story to tell about fishing with their Pepere, he loved them very much.
Mr. Whitten was predeceased by his parents and only sister, Claudia, whom he missed dearly as she was taken too soon from a car accident in 1969.
He will be missed immensely, we know God, his parents, and sister welcomed him through heavens door with a warm embrace.
We warmly invite you to join us for a visitation on May 24, 2024, from 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM at The Fortin Group, 217 Turner Street, Auburn, Maine.
The Funeral Mass will be held on May 25, 2024, at 11:00 AM at Holy Family Church, 607 Sabattus Street, Lewiston, Maine. If you wish to be part of the funeral procession to the church with us, please meet at The Fortin Group at 10:00 AM
Interment will take place on May 31, 2024, at 1:00 PM at St. Peter's Cemetery. The procession will start at 12:00 PM from The Fortin Group, 217 Turner Street, Auburn, Maine 04210.
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