Stanley Burt Whitten

Stanley Burt Whitten, passed away Sunday, Nov. 13, at the age of 76. Mr. Whitten was born on Groundhog Day, Feb. 2, 1935 in Washington, DC. He was the youngest son of Leslie Hunter Whitten and Linnora Harvey Whitten. He attended Woodrow Wilson High School in Washington, DC (Class of 1952) and won a letter in varsity tennis. He went on to Cornell University in Ithaca, NY (Class of 1957) and graduated with a degree in mechanical engineering. Upon graduation, he was commissioned in the United States Navy and served from 1957 through 1960, retiring as a Lieutenant. He was the Chief Engineer on USS Nicholas, a Fletcher-class destroyer, serving assignments in Australia, the Philippines, Hong Kong, and other stations. Upon leaving the Navy, he married Rose Marie McNerney, a public school teacher in the Washington area, on June 29, 1963 and moved to Silver Spring, MD in 1967. Mr. Whitten worked as a Stock Broker in Washington, DC until 1974 when he changed careers to become an investigator for the US Securities and Exchange Commission. He moved to Northbrook, IL in 1978. When he retired in 1995, he was the third ranking official, Assistant Regional Director, specializing in fraudulent stock activities. He had an active retirement. He and his wife spent their winters at their vacation home in Fort Myers, FL. They enjoyed travel and playing bridge. In 2008, they moved to Madison, WI. In Mr. Whitten's free time, he composed crossword puzzles from 1976 through 2011. He was one of the country's most celebrated "cruciverbalist." His puzzles were syndicated in newspapers across the country, including the Washington Post, L.A. Times, and Chicago Tribune. He also won three consecutive days on the television game show Wheel of Fortune in 1991. His winnings included $14,850 and a GEO Tracker. Mr. Whitten is survived by his brothers Leslie (Phyllis) Whitten of Silver Spring, MD and Harvey Whitten of Valley Forge, PA; his four children, Cosmas (Thomas) Skaife of Madison, WI, Burt Whitten of Oak Forest, IL, Mary Whitten of Hampton, VA, and Lewis (Kelly) Whitten of Las Vegas, NV; his four grandchildren Edward and Samuel Skaife, and Nicholas and Brandon Whitten; his sister-in-law Gloria (Robert) McCarthy; and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents and the love of his life, Rose, his wife of 46 years. A visitation will be held Nov. 19, 2011 at 10 a.m. and a memorial service at 11 a.m. at Cress Funeral Home, 6021 University Ave. in Madison, WI, with Pastor Fred Weiss presiding. The family would like to thank Carbone Cancer Center, Angelus Retirement Community, Senior Helpers, and Agrace Hospice Care.