Edgar A. Whiting

Edgar A. Whiting
of IthacaEdgar A. Whiting, 98, former longtime resident of Ithaca, died October 13, 2006 at Hospicare Residence in Ithaca. Born June 27, 1908, son of Archibald and Sara Day Whiting, he graduated from Ithaca High School in 1925 and received his Bachelor of Science degree in Hotel Administration from Cornell in 1929. He was appointed assistant director of University Unions at Cornell in 1930 and associate director in 1950. He served as associate director of Willard Straight Hall and the Department of Housing and Dining from 1956-1958, when he was appointed director of the Department of University Unions at Cornell University. He retired from this position September 1, 1970. Mr. Whiting served for 27 years, until 1968, as secretary treasurer of the Association of College Unions International. He was a former member of the Village Board of Cayuga Heights and was the campaign chairman of the first Tompkins County United Fund in 1955. He was a member of the Tompkins County Red Cross Board, a charter member of the Cayuga Heights Fire Department, chairman of the WVBR Board of Directors, member and former president of the City Club of Ithaca, and former chairman of the Advisory Board of von Cramm Hall, Cornell. He was an honorary member of Quill and Dagger, senior men's honorary fraternity, and Kappa Delta Rho fraternity. From 1944-1946, he was a Lieutenant in the U.S. Navy. He was stationed at the Brooklyn Navy Yard and served on the U.S.S. Kearsarge. Mr. Whiting lived at 115 Northway Road with his wife, the former Evelyn Carter, for 62 years until her death in 2000. Since then he has lived with his son, John and daughter-in-law, Sue in Apalachin, NY. He is also survived by two daughters, Carolyn Wilson, Erie, Colo., and Nancy Sewall, Pittsfield, Mass.; seven grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. Ed was a great guy who loved his family, Cornell, sports and his yard.
A celebration of Mr. Whiting's life will be held on Tuesday, October 17, 2006, at 1 p.m. at the Bangs Funeral Home with Rev. Jim Geuder officiating. Friends may call at the funeral home on Tuesday, prior to the service, beginning at 12 noon. Private interment will be held in East Lawn Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations may be directed to Hospicare, 172 E. King Rd., Ithaca, N.Y. 14850.