J. D. was born in Woodland, CA, the first born son to James Scott Whyte of Galashiels, Scotland and Martha Jane Hutchings Whyte of Beaver, UT. During the depression years, J.D. began working at the age of 7 selling magazines door to door and delivering the daily newspaper to homes. Dad joined the Navy in January 1944 and was a Combat Air Crewman in dive bombers and torpedo bombers during WWII. While in the Navy he received his high school diploma from Woodland High School in 1945.
J.D. was discharged from the Navy in March 1946 and married Joyce Causey of Taft, CA, on April 1, 1946. J.D. and Joyce had four children: Jamie, Scott, Connie, and Danny. They raised their children in Taft as J.D. sold cars, then purchasing Whyte's Mobil Service Station on 4th and Kern. He enjoyed serving the customers and running his own business for years. He enjoyed camping with his family, golfing with his friends, and riding his motorcycle, until he was forced out of the service station business after a near death motorcycle accident in 1967 that took him years to recover from. He was President of Taft Junior Chamber of Commerce, a member of Taft Masonic Temple, and member of the Taft American Legion.
In 1979, J.D. married Catherine Martha Diffee and moved to Bakersfield. He and Cathy met working together at the Kern County Veterans Service Dept., where he was a Veterans Service Representative. J.D. loved traveling with Cathy in their trailer, swimming in his backyard pool, laughing-relaxing-smoking his many different pipes. Dad accepted Jesus Christ into his life in his later years and loved singing the old traditional hymns.
J.D. was preceded in death by his Vietnam Veteran son, James L. Whyte, and his youngest son, U.S. Army Veteran Joseph Daniel Whyte. J.D. is survived by son Scott Whyte of Bakersfield, daughter Connie Woodward and husband Tom of Bakersfield, and stepson Dennis Diffee of Bakersfield. He is also survived by 5 grandsons, 14 great grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews.
Our family would like to thank the Rosewood Retirement Home for their excellent loving care to our father. Gravesite services will be held at Hillcrest Memorial Park on Thursday, September 6th at 11am.
