Steven J Whetstine

7/5/53-6/24/17

A Life Well-lived, a Man Well-loved

Steve Whetstine was born on July 5, 1953, to Don and Ruth Whetstine of San Diego, CA. He earned his bachelor’s degree in architecture from Cal Poly University in San Luis Obispo, CA, and designed several buildings in downtown San Diego and Coronado. His biggest accomplishment as an architect is the Naval Hospital on the Marine Corps base in Twentynine Palms, CA.

Steve married his wife Jeanette in February of 1982. Three months after he met her, he proposed. He knew right away that she was the one he wanted to spend the rest of his life with. They were married for thirty-five wonderful years and had three children together. They looked forward to spending many more years together fixing up S&J Ranch, their 11-acre property in Julian, CA. Steve was a loving and devoted husband and father, and the best dad his kids could ever ask for.

Steve loved life and he truly lived his life for others. He was happiest when he was making other people happy. He loved it when he could get someone to smile or laugh, whether by offering a helping hand, telling a clever joke, or sharing a funny story or some words of wisdom. He always knew just the right thing to say, and he was always there for the people he loved. He would drop everything at a moment’s notice if needed, often without being asked.

Steve also loved his job as Environmental Program Manager with the U.S. Navy Civil Service at COMNAVSURFPAC in Coronado, CA. He brought his love of helping people to his job and enjoyed mentoring the young sailors he worked with. He was a friend to everyone, well-respected for his kindness, his talents, and his happy and positive personality.

Steve passed away peacefully in his sleep of a heart attack, at his home in Julian, with his wife and son at his side. As he had no prior history of heart problems, his friends and family speculate that a single human heart simply could not contain all the love and happiness that made Steve the caring, thoughtful, helpful, generous, wonderful man he was. He will be sorely missed. May he rest in God’s eternal peace, and may his legacy live on in the many, many lives he touched--a legacy of love and life and joy. If there is some small comfort for those he left behind, it is in knowing that, with Steve in their midst, God and His angels will always have new reasons to smile.

Steve is survived by his wife Jeanette, his children Heather and Michael, his parents Don and Ruth, his siblings Linda, Don, and Alan, and his nieces Jessica, Lindsay, and Chelsea. Interment will be at Holy Cross Cemetery in San Diego, CA. In lieu of flowers or donations, please send condolences to The Whetstine Family at P.O. Box 180670, Coronado, CA, 92178, or post them in the online guest book.

Arrangements under the direction of Merkley-Mitchell Mortuary, San Diego, CA.