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Thomas Whitten Obituary
DUNLAP - Thomas E. Whitten Jr., 53, of Dunlap died at 1:15 p.m. Thursday, March 20, 2008, at his home.
Tom was born Jan. 29, 1955, in Peoria to Thomas and Alice (Lysak) Whitten. He married Lisa Pearl on June 29, 1979. She survives.
Also surviving are his children, Andrew (Andrea) Whitten of Farmington, N.M., Douglas Whitten of Cincinnati, Ohio, Sarah Whitten and Gregory Whitten, both of Chicago; his mother, Alice Whitten of Peoria; his siblings, Michael (Andy) Whitten of Fratonia, Texas, Dale (Dina) Whitten of Aurora, Colo., Gerald (Cheryl) Whitten of Geneva, Theresa Whitten of Sterling (Exceptional Care) and Dr. Patrick (Bridget Burke) Whitten of Peoria; and two grandchildren, Rosemary Whitten and Benjamin Whitten, both of Farmington, N.M.
He was preceded in death by his father, Thomas Edward Whitten Sr.
Tom was president and general manager of Peoria Cars Inc. and Pearl Automotive Group. During his career in the automotive industry, Tom actively participated in many professional associations.
He was a member of the National Automobile Dealers Association, Import Automobile Dealers Association and the Peoria Metro New Car Dealers Association, for which he was appointed to several executive offices including that of president in 1992. Tom also served on the Lexus Central Area Dealer Council Board and Advertising Board, the Toyota Chicago Region Dealer Council Board and Advertising Board and the National Toyota Dealer Advisory Board.
In 1997, he was awarded the Automobile Dealership Service Excellence Award, presented by Good Housekeeping and Automotive News. Tom also helped his team achieve the prestigious designation of Elite of Lexus in six of the last seven years.
A native of the Peoria area, Tom graduated from Bergan High School in 1973. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in both business administration and accounting from Regis College in Denver, Colo., in 1977, where he was a member of the baseball team for four years.
Tom was a member of St. Thomas the Apostle Roman Catholic Church and the Country Club of Peoria.
A funeral Mass will be held at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at St. Thomas Church in Peoria Heights, with Msgr. William Watson officiating. Visitation will be held from 4 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at St. Thomas Church, with a rosary recitation to follow at 8 p.m. Additional visitation will be one hour before the Mass at the church. Burial will be in Resurrection Cemetery in Peoria.
Wright & Salmon Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.
Memorials may be made to the Thomas E. Whitten Jr. Cholangiocarcinoma Research Trust, 7401 N. Allen Road, Peoria, IL 61614, Attn. Lynn Jones, or to the St. Thomas the Apostle School Technology Fund.
Tributes and condolences may be submitted to www.wrightandsalmon.com.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for Thomas Whitten
artie fowler
April 12, 2008
i met tom several years ago while comming into the auto industry. he always welcomed me in his office and treated me as family. he was a man of word and would help you any way he could in the auto world. i will miss him. may god rest his soul for eternity and bless his family forever. artie fowler. quality motors, hanna city ilinois.
Stefan Zeller
March 31, 2008
I always enjoyed seeing Tom and talking with him. My sympathy to your family.
Jack Hunthausen
March 26, 2008
Dear Lisa and Family: My condolences to you all at this time. I was one of Tom's accounting teachers at Regis in the mid-70s. May your faith be a constant source of comfort and strength during this time of grieving. I will remember Tom and all of you in my Masses and prayers.
Jack Hunthausen, S.J.
St. Louis, MO
John Poppell
March 26, 2008
My deepest sympathy to the Whitten family. Tom was very generous in donating his time and thoughts in building our new Toyota Image ll dealership. We will keep his family in our prayers.
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Michele Draher
March 26, 2008
Dr. Whitten
My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.
Paul & Amanda Filip
March 26, 2008
To the Whitten Family: Our prayers and thoughts are with you and your family during this difficult time. May God bless and be with your entire family. The world has lost a great man and he will be missed.
St. Francis GI Lab
March 26, 2008
Dear Dr. Whitten, We are sorry to hear the loss of your brother. Please know that all of us are thinking of you and your family at this time. We pray that you may find inner strength and peace knowing that he is resting in his eternal home in heaven.Sincerely, Your friends and nursing staff at St. Francis GI Lab
Teri, Tom, John and Drew Brodbeck
March 25, 2008
Lisa and family,
We are so sorry to hear of Tom's passing. Please know that you and your family are always in our thoughts and prayers. God Bless you.
Love and hugs,
Jeff & Terri Ralph
March 25, 2008
Lisa,
We are out of town, but our thoughts and prayers are with you and the family.
God bless Tom and all of you!
March 25, 2008
Dr.Whitten, our prayers and thoughts are with you at this time!
Your employee's at The Illinois Lung Institute
Daniel & Mary Ann Knaub
March 24, 2008
TO THE WHITTEN fAMILY Our Sincerest Sympathy and Prayers,also to Tom's Mother. We remember Tom from Bergan and all of Bills' friends God Bless
Tim Bussman
March 24, 2008
Lisa, Andrew, Doug, Sarah, and Greg,
I like to express my condolences during this hard time. Tom isn't suffering anymore, he's in a better place now. You are in my thoughts and prayers. May God bless you.
Jerry {F} Watkins
March 24, 2008
Dear Lisa ,May God be with you in this darkess hour. If Dr James{Jim} R Watkins were still with us he would be sending this himself ,he also left us early,age 52,October ,2006 with very similar circumstance.To you and your family our very most Sympathy.
Kevin Kallister S&K Pontiac GMC Inc.
March 24, 2008
The Central Illinois auto dealer community will deeply miss Tom Whitten. His passion for the business and the integrity in his operations, were a great reflection on our industry. He leaves a legacy his family can be proud of.
Dan & Tammy Sichak
March 24, 2008
Sorry for your loss, we will keep you in our prayers.
Rory Mallo
March 24, 2008
May your hearts soon be filled with wonderful memories of joyful times together as you celebrate a life well-lived.
OSF Hospice
March 24, 2008
Our thoughts and prayers are with you. God Bless you and your family.
Greg Doolin
March 24, 2008
I always enjoyed my many meetings with Tom and others associated with the dealerships. Tom was a great businessman, but better yet - he was a great person. He always had time to discuss personal stories and just enjoyed life in general. My condolences to the family and many friends.
Pat O'Brien
March 23, 2008
I was fortunate enough to serve with Tom on many of the boards associated with Toyota. Tom was compassionate, thoughtful, and a caring person. I feel blessed to have known Tom. Our prayers are with his family.
Steve & Brenda Peterburs
March 23, 2008
To the Whitten Family - So sorry to hear of your loss, our thoughts and prayers are with you.
karen smith
March 23, 2008
Dr Whitten I was very sorry to hear of the passing of your brother. Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. Karen Smith and Susan Krumholz MMCI Endo
Michelle (Simkins) Hughes
March 23, 2008
Lisa,
Even though it's been since our early school years since I've seen you, I wanted to know that my thoughts and prayers are with you and your family at this most difficult time.
Kim Pettit
March 23, 2008
Dear Lisa and extended Whitten and Pearl family, As grade school mates and friends to you all, The Madigan family extend our deep sympathy, love and prayers for your loss of Tom. May the Lord God Bless you and keep you close to his heart..Blessings ,Kim Madigan Pettit, for John,Ben,Christine,Dan(Tom's Class) Pat and Mark Madigan Family
Dave and Mary Dunkin and Family
March 23, 2008
Sorry to hear of the untimely passing of Tom Whitten. The Whitten and Pearl Families are in our prayers.
Jeff Davies
March 23, 2008
I met Tom on a Monday, October 6th 1980. He was leaving his job at Moore and going to Pearl. A young man with vision and enthusiasm. Over a quarter of a century later he blessed this world with a wife, wonderful children, and many friends. Just a few months ago I ran into him getting coffee on Pioneer Parkway, we shook hands and agreed to make some time to catch up. Sadly we did not. I am grateful for the time he had and those he touched. My prayers are with those he left behind.
Mark & Angelique Anthony
March 22, 2008
I called on Tom in the 1990's as an insurance agent. He was a solid businessman and his track record with Toyota and Lexus bear that out. He also motivated a person to give their best.
Our deep sympathies to the family.
DOUG CRAWFORD
March 22, 2008
SO SORRY TO HEAR OF TOMS PASSING. I REMEMBER HIM FROM WHEN HE FIRST WENT TO WORK FOR THE PEARL AUTOMOTIVE GROUP. IT WAS ALWAYS A PLEASURE WORKINGWITH HIM. MY SYMPHATHY TO YOU AND YOUR FAMILY.
Proctor ICU
March 22, 2008
Dr. Whitten,
Please know that our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. With Great Sympathy, The Entire Staff of Proctor ICU
Mike Brem
March 22, 2008
I never failed to learn from Tom. My thoughts and prayers are with you Lisa, and your family.
James and Lisa Kepple Clunie
March 22, 2008
How sad we were to hear of Tom's passing. Our love goes to you, Lisa, and your family.
Tim Mahrt
March 22, 2008
Lisa, I was so sorry to hear of your loss. I know how difficult of a time this is. Please know that your family is in our prayers during this difficult time. May God Bless you and keep you in his care.
sales team
March 22, 2008
Thanks for your leadership, vision and passion for the business.
Your Sales Team at Peoria Toyota Scion
Todd Hopkins
March 22, 2008
Our thoughts and prayers are with Lisa and the family. I am blessed to have met Tom and work with him as part of the Lexus family. He was a great member of Lexus's team Bushwood and will be greatly missed by all of the Lexus Dealers he came in contact with. He always was a man of great integrity and will be missed.
Clay & Carol Hughes
March 22, 2008
Our thoughts and prayers are with you.
Liz Whitten
March 22, 2008
Dear Aunt Lisa, Andrew, Doug, Sarah, Greg,
You all are in my thoughts and prayers. May god carry you through this difficult time.
Anton Spence
March 22, 2008
I wanted to stop and say how much Tom has meant to me. He was always a fair and honest man with me, he was the reason I was at Lexus and I THANK him for giving me the chance to grow and growup around him. He will be dearly missed by me and my wife.
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