Robert Louis Whitt

Aug. 12, 1924 - Aug. 30, 2017
Robert Louis Whitt died August 30 in his home at the Bethel Retirement Center in Modesto following a brief illness. Born in Selma, CA August 12, 1924, son of Perry Whitt and Eleanor Prather Whitt, he was raised in Columbia, CA and Stockton, CA. After graduating from Stockton High in 1942, he entered the U.S. Army Signal Corps and served in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, where he met and married Jean Morris in 1945. They returned to Stockton, and Bob received his B.S. and M.A. from the College of the Pacific. He served as a teacher and then administrator in the Stockton public schools from 1949 until 1964, including as principal at John Adams Elementary, John Marshall Junior High, and Edison High, and as Assistant Superintendent of the Stockton Unified School District. After completing a doctorate in Michigan, he taught a year at Wayne State in Detroit, and then for eight years at Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa. In 1975, he returned to California as Superintendent of the Novato Unified School District, and in 1979, Superintendent of the Sylvan School District in Modesto. He retired in 1984, and continued to consult in education. He taught until two weeks before his death. His wife Jean preceded him in death in December 2003. Roberta Betcher, his partner since 2007, survives him. He leaves daughter Elizabeth Whitt; daughter Joanne Whitt and husband David Buechner; son Don Whitt and wife Jeannie Whitt; and grandchildren Allison and Rebecca Meredith, Connor Whitt and Pete Buechner. In addition, he is survived by Bobbie's daughters and their families: Martha Betcher, Janet Betcher, and Linda Betcher. A memorial service will be held in the Bethel Retirement Center activity room, 2345 Scenic Dr., Modesto, on Saturday, November 4, at 2:00 p.m. Donations in Robert's memory may be made to the Bethel Caregiver Fund.