Eugene Anderson Whitlock
Share
Tweet
Eugene Anderson Whitlock, age 95 passed away peacefully on March 3, 2024, at Worland Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center. He was born June 29, 1928, in Worland, Wyoming, the fourth child of Andrew and Ludina (Anderson) Whitlock. He had five siblings, Virginia, Glen, Ira, Jerry, and Sharon.
Gene worked at the creamery as a young boy and drove the creamery truck. He bought his own clothes by the age of ten and had a paper route for years. Gene sang at an early age, and was in the mixed chorus and boy's Glee club in High School. Gene played the trombone in the high school band and later played in dance bands. He sang and played at family gatherings. He loved playing sports, lettering in basketball and football in high school. Later, he played semi-pro baseball for the Worland Indians and city league basketball. During the two years he played, the Worland Indian baseball team was Wyoming state champion and bi-state (Wyoming and Montana) champions.
Gene graduated in May 1946 from Washakie County High School and enlisted in the Navy after World War II and was stationed in Florida. He was honorably discharged in May of 1948. His Navy experience was primarily clerical which was an asset for his life's work. Four days after returning home, he was offered a job at Holly Sugar starting as a Voucher Clerk. He spent a total of 45 years working at Holly Sugar, and moved up the ladder as Time Keeper, Farmer's Ledger Clerk, Assistant Cashier, Cashier, Accounting Manager, and retired as Factory Controller. His tenure at Holly Sugar was from May 1948 to July 1, 1993. During those years, he took a correspondence course to have the equivalent of a college accounting degree.
A year after being discharged from the Navy, he met Charlotte Mills from Ten Sleep. Gene and Charlotte were married in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints Salt Lake Temple on January 30, 1951.
After marrying into a ranching family, Gene learned to shoe and break horses, cut and split firewood, and many other ranching tasks; in return he provided much needed financial planning, accounting and tax expertise to his extended ranching family. For recreation, he loved to fish, ride horses, play horseshoes and play catch or any other sport with his grandchildren. His favorite ranching activity was building and repairing fences which he continued to do for many years after retiring. Gene loved sports, especially basketball; he watched every pro basketball game he could find on TV. He had a gift for remembering and reciting statistics that astounded his family.
He served the Worland community for eleven years on the city council and parks and cemetery commission, for three years on the planning committee, and eight years on the recreation board. He served in many church positions which included Bishop of the Worland First Ward from May 1986 to January 1992.
Gene was preceded in death by his parents, his siblings, his wife, Charlotte, son, Mark and daughter, LaRae. Gene is survived by his sons, Craig (SuZann) Whitlock of Worland, Wayne (Allyson) Whitlock of Los Altos, CA, Boyd (AnnaMarie) Whitlock of Ten Sleep, daughter-in-law, April Whitlock of North Logan, Utah, along with 16 grandchildren and 36 great-grandchildren.
Gene demonstrated his love of the gospel of Jesus Christ with his actions toward others, always willing to help and comfort those in need. He never failed to express his sincere gratitude for his family, loved ones and his loyal caregivers at Worland Healthcare.
Funeral services will be on 11:00 AM, March 15, 2024, at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Stake Center in Worland with Bishop Timothy Warren officiating. Burial will follow at Riverview Memorial Gardens Cemetery with military honors provided by the US Navy, American Legion Post #44 and the Patriot Guard Riders. Visitation for family and friends will be held 7:00 PM Thursday evening at the Bryant Funeral Home Chapel and also one hour prior to services at the church. Online condolences may be made at http://www.bryantfuneral
homeonline.com.
