David W Whitten

David William Whitten, affectionately known as Pete, passed away on October 9, 2024, at the age of 85. Born on August 7, 1939, in Portland, Maine, he was the youngest of five children born to Ralph Henry and Margaret Iris Whitten, joining his siblings Elaine, Henry, Carl, and Richard in a loving family.

Pete married Cheryl Stearns on September 25, 1960, and together they raised two sons, Peter David and Jonathan William Whitten. A proud graduate of Deering High School, he served his country in the U.S. Navy, where he made significant contributions aboard several submarines, including the USS Bugara and the USS George Washington—the Navy's first ballistic missile submarine on which he served as a member of the pre-commissioning Gold crew. He later served as an instructor at the US Fleet Sonar School in Key West, Florida, and was part of the pre-commissioning crew on the Fast Attack Submarine USS Guardfish in New Jersey and later in Honolulu, Hawaii. His dedication to service culminated in a career at the Naval Scientific and Technical Intelligence Center and the Naval Intelligence Support Center in Washington, D.C., from which he retired as a Senior Chief Petty Officer in 1976.

After his naval career, Pete continued his work as a Sonar Scientist at Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory, retiring in 1990. After retiring, he and Cheryl enjoyed a life split between homes in Portland, Maine, and Palm Bay, Florida, before moving to Port Saint Lucie, Florida, following the birth of their first grandchild. They were blessed with four grandchildren: Adis, Ailish, Bree, and Belle, who brought immense joy to their lives.

Pete was a passionate fan of the Boston Red Sox and the New England Patriots, and he cherished the memories of finally witnessing the Red Sox win the World Series. He is survived by his beloved wife Cheryl, his brother Richard, his sons Peter and Jonathan, daughter-in-law Kelly, his adored grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.

He will be remembered for his dedication to family, his service to his country, and his unwavering spirit. A private memorial service will be held in Portland Maine at a later date to honor his remarkable life.