Earl E. Whited, 66

Local pastor, Earl E. Whited, died 10:00 a.m. January 23, 2005, at Grangeville
Health and Rehabilitation in Grangeville from complications from an April
30, 2002, heart attack which happened while visiting Las Vegas, Nevada. So many
x-rays of the heart produced a lung cancer which took his life. He was born
in Ogden Dunes, Michigan, located on the shores of Lake Michigan, August 8, 1938.
He is survived by his life's partner, Ellie Ahern, Kooskia; sons, Eric
Whited from Cleveland, Ohio, and Kurt Whited from Boston, Massachusetts.
He was valedictorian of his 1956 class from Northwestern Military Academy.
His motto was "give me a ball any ball." He excelled in football and
basketball.
He was recruited into the Department of Defense at 18. He served his country
for 46 years while also working for U. S. Steel as a labor negotiator, in
Holiday Inns International Hotels as a labor relations executive, in
Coca-Cola as their national and international benefits executive and as a
human relations executive for Source International, Inc. While at Source he
was given the assignment of CEO of the fledgling Mail Box Ect Company. Under
his command the company grew from 15 to 300 stores across America within six
months.
He graduated from DePauw University and went on to get his masters degree in
economics from the University of Chicago.
He was a child prodigy. He started playing the piano at 3 years old. At 12
he graduated from the Chicago Conservatory of Music. He lost himself in the
creativity of music inspired by God. His ability to play jazz, classical,
christian and contemporary gave happiness to all who he blessed with his
music. No one ever played a more beautiful Ebb Tide and Autumn Leaves.
He was first called to be a pastor during his senior year at Northwestern
Military Academy. He rededicated his life in 1982 at Grace Church, Chicago,
Ill., and studied and became a minister of healing for the Lord Jesus Christ
in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. He came to Las Vegas in 1997 and was ordained pastor
by Pastor Dennis Walker of Harvest Rock Church. Upon moving to Kooskia in
June of 1999, he pastored Kooskia Harvest Rock Church Home Fellowship.
Celebration of his life will be held at 1 p.m., Saturday, January 29, 2005 at the
Continental Evangelical Free Church, 408 North College, Grangeville. Pastor
Brent Ewing will officiate. A gathering of friends will be held in the
church's educational unit immediately following the service. Flowers can be
sent to Continental Evangelical Free Church. His ashes will be spread by
family members on the side of his special road Sunday morning.
Arrangements handled by Blackmer Funeral Home, Grangeville. Condolences may
be sent to blackmerfuneralhome.com.