Marvin Marion Whittington

Marvin Marion (M.M.) Whittington, 90, of Tucumcari, NM, died at Plains Regional Medical Center in Clovis on Sunday morning, March 22, 2009, following an extended illness. He was deeply loved and will be missed.
Funeral services will be held Thursday, March 26, 2009, 10:00 a.m., at the First Baptist Church in Tucumcari. Service will be officiated by Reverend Joseph Tillery, Director of Missions, Pecos Valley Baptist Association, Artesia, NM. Burial will follow in the family plot of the Tucumcari Memorial Park Cemetery.
Marvin was born April 28, 1918, at the base of Mesa Redondo, near Norton, NM, to parents Marion and Ellen (Patton) Whittington. Marvin accepted Christ at age 9, led to the plan of salvation by his maternal grandmother. About the time of the Great Depression and Stock Market Crash in 1929, Marvin was diagnosed with a bone disease and required life saving treatment at Children's Hospital in Kansas City. He was confined to a wheelchair much of the time, until age 16, and was cured by a "miracle drug", penicillin.
When he was able to return home, he brought the new technology of the automated washing machine. He convinced his mother, Ellen, that they could make a living with a laundry mat, which they operated for years. On November 10, 1940, Marvin married Alice (Blunt) Whittington in Clovis.
During World War II, Marvin became an electrician, and worked at several defense sites, including the location that is now the Pantex Plant near Amarillo, TX. Marvin and Alice built and owned a number of commercial properties in Tucumcari during the 1960's, 70's and 80's, including Golden W Motel, Sahara Sands Motel, Pony Soldier Motel, La Cita Restaurant, Ministry of Hope, Comcast Cable, and others. In 1987, Marvin and Alice formed Whittco, Inc., a family corporation which continues business operations, now in the 3rd generation of the Whittington Family.
Alice passed away December 20, 1995, in Clovis, after 55 years of marriage. Marvin and Alice had celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in 1990 with a reception at First Baptist Church, Tucumcari.
Marvin was ordained as a Deacon at Trinity Baptist Church in Tucumcari on September 15, 1957. At the time of his death, and for many years prior, he was a long time member of the First Baptist Church of Tucumcari. He received a Certificate of Recognition for his 65-year membership in the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers in 2007. Before his health problems in 2003, Marvin frequently lunched at the Tucumcari Senior Citizen Center and enjoyed the companionship of friends.
Marvin Whittington is survived by sons and daughters-in-law, Richard and Joycelyn Whittington of Albuquerque, Mark and Debra Whittington of Tucumcari, and Stephen and Beverly Whittington of Clovis; grandchildren, Ginger Whittington and husband, Michael Jenkins of Amarillo, TX, Robin Oelkers and husband, John of Dalhart, TX, James Matthew Whittington and his fiancée, Callie Hill, and Alicia Ellen Whittington of Clovis, NM; great-grandchildren, Cheyenne Oelkers of Amarillo, TX, and Collin Oelkers, of Dalhart, TX; sister-in-law, Edna Blunt of Kailua, Kona, Hawaii, and numerous nieces and nephews, great nieces and great nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Alice (Blunt) Whittington; brothers and sisters-in-law, Charles and Hazel Whittington, R.D. and Jean Whittington; infant granddaughter, Kimberly Rebecca Whittington, and nephews, Jay Patrick Whittington and Dale Lindsay Whittington.
Pallbearers will be Harve Abercrombie, Keith Hayes, Grant Morper, Mike Riddle, Carl Unruh, Jimmy Watson, Bob White, and Carrol Willis.
Family will be staying at 102 Mohawk, Logan, NM, or 923 Hawthorne, Tucumcari, NM.
The family suggest memorials be made to First Baptist Church of Tucumcari. Arrangements are by Dunn Funeral Home, Tucumcari, NM, phone 575 461-3815.