George Lawrence Whitten

1934 - 2022

Norwich - George Lawrence Whitten died peacefully, March 8, 2022, at the age of 88. He liked to recount that he was born on the cold day of Jan. 21, 1934, at his home in Hallowell, Maine, right on the kitchen table atop the Kennebec Journal newspaper. He was the son of the late Roscoe G. and Annie A. (Benner) Whitten.

George graduated from Gardiner High School and during the draft, joined the U.S. Air Force. Because of his prowess playing the trumpet, taught to him by his own father, he auditioned for and was accepted into the Air Force Band. During the next four years with the band, he had the amazing experience of traveling and performing throughout Europe, North Africa, Japan, and Hawaii. Stateside events included the Orange Bowl, and President Eisenhower's Inauguration.

Upon honorable discharge from the military, he attended the University of Maine at Farmington, receiving a bachelor's degree in education and later a master's degree. While at Farmington he met his wife to be, Barbara Joan Smythe. He and Barbara were married June 30, 1962. The two enjoyed their youthful partnership for several years, teaching, and summering on Cape Cod where George worked as the summer manager of the Chatham Motel.

George and Barbara relocated from Maine to Connecticut, initially to Preston, then later to Norwich. Both continued their careers in education until the birth of their first son, followed by their second fourteen months later. The majority of George's teaching career was spent at the high school level where he taught earth science at Wheeler High School in North Stonington. His classroom was a rich environment filled with fossils, rock samples, model volcanoes and a captivating array of experimental equipment.

His experiential approach to teaching carried over in his parenting. He involved his sons in a wide range of outdoor activities which centered around summer long annual camping adventures to Downeast Maine. Both George and his sons were heavily involved with Boy Scouts, and he became an Assistant Scout Master with Troop 4 in Norwich.

After retiring from teaching, George continued to work and very much enjoyed his job as a limousine driver shuttling hotel guests to and from the Mohegan Sun Casino. His accommodating manner suited him well for the job and resulted in lasting friendships made through those work acquaintances. George was kind and generous, nearly to a fault but that was a quality which endeared him to those who knew him. There are many, and he will be missed.

George was an avid collector of antiques and junk, and his collections came and went. He had a lifelong interest in browsing flea markets and antique stores. At home he took great pride in projects around the house and was always working on something whether it be planting, mowing, or building.

George was predeceased by his wife Barbara with whom he shared fifty-eight years of marriage; and an older sister Carolyn. George is survived by two sons, Timothy Smythe Whitten of Deer Isle, Maine and Michael George Whitten of Ledyard.

At George's request, there will be no services and his ashes will be scattered along with those of his wife Barbara.