Gene "Teeny" Whitehurst's Obituary
Gene “Teeny” Whitehurst passed from this life on Thursday, November 23rd while residing at Buckner Westminster Place. He was a lifetime resident of Longview, born on May 17, 1934, to Roy and Ernestine Whitehurst. He and his wife, Joyce, were also charter members of Oakland Heights Baptist Church.
Gene graduated from Judson High School as Salutatorian in 1952, where he loved playing quarterback for the Blue Devils, and was also a pitcher for the baseball team. After high school, he served in the Army before returning to Longview to work at his brothers’ service station until he went to work for the Longview Post Office. He loved recounting his memories of being a walking postman in his early years—the people he met and lifelong friendships made, as well as the joy of being able to give mail and packages to the children along the route and seeing their eyes light up. After he retired from the Post Office, he went back to work in the mail room at Longview Bank & Trust for another 10+ years.
Gene married his high school sweetheart (Joyce Dunbar Whitehurst) in September 1953, and they were together nearly 60 years until her death in 2013. Throughout his life, he Instilled a love for football, a strong work ethic, and a love for Christ in his children—he always led by example.
Gene is survived by his son and daughter-in-law Clay & Brooke Whitehurst of Fort Worth; daughter and son-in-law Amy Tores & John Juker of Longview; his grandchildren Lily Whitehurst and Lance Whitehurst of Fort Worth; his sister-in-law Patsy Cefalu of Shreveport, and many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents Roy & Ernestine Whitehurst, wife Joyce, brothers Alton, Lonnie, and Charles, and his sister Mary Ellen “Flucy” Lipsey.
Special thanks to the staff in Assisted Living and in the Skilled Nursing Rehab for their care and attention to Dad during his time at Buckner and to Chaplain Rick Webb for being there for us!
Visitation will be Wednesday November 29th from 5-7pm at Rader Funeral home, 1617 Judson Road, and services will be Thursday November 30th at 10am in the chapel at Rader with graveside at Summerfield Cemetery on Tryon Road.
We would like to invite friends and family to the Jalapeno Tree after the services for food and fellowship as that was one of Dad’s favorite places.
In Lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be made to Summerfield Cemetery Association, PO Box 226, Judson, TX 75660 or to Alzheimer’s/Dementia research at https://www.alz.org.
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