Mr. Alan Whitten

Alan Kenneth Whitten of Laneville passed on February 6, 2026, at his home-away-from-home in Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico, after a long illness. He was born to Mays Kenneth and Mary Jim Whitten on May 15, 1952. Though a Rusk County resident for most of his life, Alan was a world traveler. He enjoyed regaling family and friends with tales of his backpacking journeys through Europe, the United States, Israel, and Mexico (and the personal and political philosophies developed thereof). A graduate of Kilgore High School, he earned a degree in Psychology and English from SFA, but made the decision to spend his life working in the field of agriculture. He worked closely over the years with Ronnie and Nowell Borders of Borders Melon Co., and partnered with Kurt Denney in D&W Regeneration. Despite his extensive travel, his home always remained on the family farm in Laneville, and his schedule included frequent phone calls to touch base with his wife Marina, and children, Zachary and Lorna. Annual family trips to Mexico, as well as road trips that sometimes included his brother Nathan, along with the many miles he traveled for work, led to identification with, "I was a highwayman, along the coach roads I did ride…. I am still around, I'll always be around."

Alan was preceded in death by his parents, Mays Kenneth and Mary Jim Gallaway Whitten; his brother, Nathan Whitten; his mother-in-law, Matilde Bahena Cardenas; his father-in-law, Fidencio Cardenas Montero; and his nephew, Carlos Samano Cardenas. He is survived by his wife, Marina Whitten; son, Zachary Whitten; daughter, Lorna Whitten; sister, Rosemary Whitten; niece, Johanna Whitten; sisters-in-law, Petra Cardenas Flores and her husband Lencho and their children Armando, Karina, and Mariela; Maria Elena Cardenas and her children Martha, Abel, Marcos, Lidia, Raquel, and Paloma; and Rosa Marina Cardenas and her daughters Judith and Mariana; brother-in-law, Raul Cardenas and his wife Zulema; and numerous cousins and extended family.

A velorio funerario (wake) was held in Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico on February 6, 2026. A family memorial will be scheduled in Laneville at a later date. Donations of remembrance may be made to Laneville Cemetery, 13222 FM 225 S. Laneville, Texas 75667.