Ernest Eugene Whitney, 80, of Franklin, NY passed away peacefully Friday, January 19th, 2018 at O’Connor Hospital in Delhi, NY. He was born in Bennington, Vermont to Ralph and Dorothy (Andrews) Whitney in 1937. Ernest recently moved home to Franklin to be near his extended family after living in North Palm Beach, Florida for many years.
Ernest was predeceased by his much-loved wife, Susan Mount Nelson Whitney and his parents Ralph and Dorothy (Andrews) Whitney. Ernest is survived by his son Ernest Eugene Whitney, Jr. (Gene), Grandsons Jason Whitney, Brent Whitney and wife Jessica, his precious great-granddaughter Olivia Dianna Whitney, Ernest’s sisters Carolyn Whitney Worden (Wayne), Joanne Whitney Westcott-Bucherri (Bill), Louise Whitney Hebbard (Don), daughter in law, Terri Whitney, and many nieces and nephews.
Ernest attended a two-room schoolhouse in North Charlestown, NH through 6th grade until he and his family moved to Franklin, NY in 1949 where he graduated from Franklin Central School in 1955. Ernest earned his BA from the University of Georgia and Master’s Degree from Columbia University.
Ernest served in the U.S. Navy for 8+ years stationed on Wake Island, Midway Island and Hawaii as an Aviation Electronics Technician and was a member of the Franklin American Legion Post 1689. He was awarded the Good Conduct Medal and the National Defense Service Medal.
Ernest dedicated his life to teaching. He taught at Franklin Central School in Franklin, NY, SUCO Migrant Tutorial Program and retired from teaching in the Palm Beach County School District in Florida.
Ernest was a passionate man who loved carpentry and was always repairing or building projects around his Franklin home. He spent many summers renovating his Franklin home preserving its historical integrity. In his free time, he also spent his time gardening, reading, beekeeping and cooking.
After retirement, he pursued his interest in family genealogy, having at least one article published in the Ancestry Quarterly Bulletin of the Palm Beach County Genealogical Society: The Rev. John Lothropp of Etton, England, and Barnstable, New England. He always said the hardest part of genealogy was staying focused on a family line and not getting distracted by the many stories and people he discovered during his research.
Ernest had a strong religious faith and was an ordained Deacon. He attended the Episcopal Church in Franklin, Bainbridge and North Palm Beach, FL.
A special thank you to the nurses and doctors at O’Connor Hospital in Delhi, NY and the Delhi Rehabilitation and Nursing Center in Delhi NY for their loving care and support.
A private service will be held in the future at the family’s convenience.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Franklin Free Library, Franklin, NY; Franklin American Legion 1689, Franklin, NY; or the St. Paul’s Episcopal Church of Franklin, NY for their restoration fund.
Online condolences may be made by visiting www.bennettfh.com
Arrangements are by the Kenneth L. Bennett Funeral Home, Franklin.
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