Guest Book at St. Barbara's Catholic Church, Mackay Idaho
Joe Nowacki Post 16 American Legion Members pay tribute to Clint W. Whitney at Mt. McCaleb Cemetery, Mackay, Idaho March 31 2011
We will miss you Clint.
Clinton Willis Whitney, a long time resident of the Lost River Valley, passed away Saturday, March 26, 2011, at the age of 99 years. Clint Whitney was born in Moore, Idaho, September 29, 1911, to Willis and Ella Stinson Whitney. He graduated from Mackay High School in 1928 and took his first real job as a "top man" at the Mackay Metals Mine at White knob and later ran the hoist. In 1933 Clint joined the Mackay Conservation Corp (CCC's) working on fire control. The next ten years Clint spent winters working for the Pacific Fruit Express Railroad in Pocatello, Idaho and summers working for the US Forest Service as a guard at the Copper Basin Guard Station. In 1941, by correspondence, Clint got a job with the Federal Aviation Administration in Fort Worth, Texas and attended Texas Christian University, In 1941, upon his enlistment into the US Navy, Clint married Mattie R. Rukavina of Mackay, Idaho, his high school sweetheart and they shared 61 caring years together. Clint was a WWII US Navy Veteran, his tour specifically in New Caledonia and the Solomon Islands campaigns, earned him the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Ribbon with 3 Battle Stars, the American Theater Ribbon, and the Navy Commendation Ribbon. Post war, Clint returned to Fort Worth, Texas and the FAA where he accepted to train as an Air Traffic Controller at the Aeronautical Center in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, continuing his 40 year career with the Federal Aviation Administration. An active member of the FAA Flying Club, Clint held a private ticket for several years. Retiring in 1976, Clint and Mattie returned to the Lost River Valley, to be home once again in Mackay, Idaho. Clint loved the outdoors, golfing, fishing and crossing country skiing. As an avid reader, talented writer, and poet, his clever wit always kept you smiling. Clint W. Whitney was all class, reserved and a true gentleman who will greatly missed by all those who knew and loved him. A devote Catholic, Clint W. Whitney was a member of St. Barbara's Catholic Church in Mackay, the American Legion, the Historical Society, Senior Citizens and the Humane Society, where he took a special interest in care of animals. Clint W. Whitney was preceded in death by his wife Mattie Whitney, his parents, three brothers and a sister. A Funeral Mass for Clinton W. Whitney will be held at St. Barbara's Catholic Church in Mackay, Idaho, Thursday, March 31, 2011, at 11:00 AM and a graveside service to follow at Mt. Mc Caleb Cemetery. Arrangements under the direction of Thomason Funeral Home in Weiser, Idaho. From http://www.lienkaemper-thomason.com/sitemaker/sites/Lienka1/obit.cgi?user=344583Whitney
