John’s parents relocated to Beaumont, TX shortly after, where John was raised with his 4 siblings: Bob, Mary Anne, Sara and Jim.
As a young student, John excelled at math and science. He earned his degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Texas at Austin in 1984. That same year, he married Elizabeth (Soliday) Whitsitt and became a father.
John and Elizabeth raised their family of 3 children in both Dallas and Houston, Texas, with a year in Aberdeen, Scotland between. During those years, John worked at Dresser Guiberson and Schlumberger.
Those who knew John remember him as personable, clever and an engaging story teller. He loved the process of problem-solving and continued to work as an engineer until his passing. He contributed over 40 patents to his field of engineering and enjoyed mentoring young engineers. John had equal passion for the splendor of the natural world and the beauty and coherence of physics. He was blessed to spend his last years hiking throughout the United States, where he could experience the glorious views from a mountain and the vastness of the ocean from a beach, and meeting his two young grandsons, playing and reading and teaching them the marvelous workings of wheels.
John is survived by his wife, Elizabeth Whitsitt; daughters, Edith (James) Clarendon and Tara (Adam Hamer) Whitsitt; son, Seth (Kara Welch) Whitsitt; grandchildren; Arthur Whitsitt Clarendon and Zigmund Whitsitt-Hamer; and siblings, Robert (Mary) Whitsitt, Sara (John) Pellegreen and James (Dena Williams) Whitsitt. He was predeceased by his sister Mary Anne Whitsitt Novia.
A memorial service to celebrate John’s life will be held in the fall of 2024. John donated generously to UT Engineering. A gift in his honor would be appreciated in lieu of flowers: www.give.utexas.edu
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