John Allen Wilhite – “JW”, 69
JW was a character and really loved life. He was always tickled to share his latest story with you, usually following his special recipe of a kernel of truth wrapped with a layer of exaggeration and topped with a dash of speculation. JW was a proud wheeler and dealer, always excited when he made a “good trade” on a piece of equipment or other deal and felt like he came out on top. One of his favorite hobbies was barbequing ribs and his mouth-watering brisket. JW and “Leenie” were so generous to feed family and friends on many occasions, including numerous wedding parties with hundreds of thankful diners. He was so pleased and proud when people praised his BBQ, and everyone did. Most importantly JW loved his family and friends. First his dedicated wife, business partner, and best friend, Eileen. Then his children, grand-children, brother, parents, aunts and uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews, and many long-time friends.
John Allen Wilhite, residing on the family farm built by his great-grandfather between Larned and Pawnee Rock, Kansas, went home to be with the Lord on Saturday, May 7th, 2016 at age 69. He succumbed to heart and kidney failure at the Kansas Medical Center in Andover, Kansas.
John is survived by his wife, Phyllis Eileen Unruh Wilhite – “Leenie”. They were married on July 4th, 1981, on his family’s farm. John is survived by four children; Scott Kirby Wilhite who lives with his wife, Rebecca, in Hartford, CT; Teri Janell Wilhite Thomas who lives with her husband, Jim, in Hutchinson, KS; Christopher John Wilhite who lives with his wife, Angela, in Larned, KS; Cindi Diane Wilhite Dinning who lives with her husband, Dave, in Larned, KS. John is survived by one stepdaughter, Phyllis Marlene Harris Agee and is predeceased by his stepson, Ernest “Ernie” Ray Harris. John and Eileen have thirteen grand-children and eight great grand-children.
John was born on August 4th, 1946 in Great Bend, Kansas, son of Woodroe William Wilhite and Mary Louise Hill Wilhite, both of whom preceded him in death. He grew up in Pawnee Rock, Kansas, with his parents and his surviving younger brother Jack Lee Wilhite – “CJ”. John’s mother wrote about him saying, “I have watched you, John, grow from a light-skinned blue-eyed curly haired blonde with a winning smile. Your Dad said Grandma Hill and I spoiled you rotten, so he would spoil Jack. You were a good big brother.” John took Jack under his wing over the years in many ways. He taught him how to drive and repair a truck as well as how to work on and hot-rod cars. One Christmas John surprised Jack with a 1969 Chevy Camaro SS as his gift. He was proud of growing up in Pawnee Rock and graduating from the local high school, and dearly loved rebuilding and hot-rodding cars during his youth. John was known for getting into mischief with his brother, Crosby and Wilhite cousins, as well school friends.
After graduating from high school, John attended Pratt Community College and subsequently served in the Army Reserve. He started his work life with a brief stint working on an oil drilling rig before starting his own trucking business called the John Wilhite Truck Line and later J&E Alfalfa. Trucking was his life-long career, and he always worked hard. John was out hauling a load of grain in his conventional Peterbilt truck two weeks before he passed away. His trucking stories from over the years would fill an entire newspaper.
In addition to his barbequing, John enjoyed hunting, collecting guns, fishing, traveling and visiting, tinkering on trucks, cars, tractors, and more. Most importantly he had accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as his savior and was a member of the Pawnee Rock Christian Church where both his parents and maternal grandparents were also members.
Funeral service will be at 2 p.m. Friday, May 13th, 2016 at the Christian Church, Pawnee Rock, with Pastor Wade Russell presiding. Visitation will be from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday at Beckwith Mortuary, Larned. Burial will be in the Pawnee Rock Cemetery, Pawnee Rock.
Memorials may be given to the Pawnee Rock Christian Church in care of Beckwith Mortuary, Box 477 Larned, KS 67550. Condolences may be left at www.beckwithmortuary.com.