Judson Whitman

Jud Whitman, 90, passed away at his home in Casper on February 23, 2012, surrounded by his loving family. Whitman was born on January 12, 1922 in Peoria, Illinois to Herman and Hilda Whitman. During high school in Peoria he worked summers and weekends in the sporting goods department at Montgomery Ward where he met his future wife, Evelyn Webb. Whitman started college in September 1940 at Montana School of Mines (now Montana Tech) in Butte, Montana. College was interrupted by World War II and Whitman was called to active duty in April of 1943. He served in the Air Force as a navigator with the 407th Bomb Squadron, 92nd Bomb Group, 8th Air Force out of Podington, England. Awarded the Purple Heart, 1st Lieutenant Whitman was Honorably Discharged from the Air Force on December 7, 1945. Whitman returned to Montana Tech to finish his degree in Geological Engineering. He married Evelyn Webb in Helena, MT on June 5,1947. Jud and Evelyn were married 63 years and they had 3 children- Rae Lynn, Lon and Mary (Mamie). Family was the clear love and focus of Jud throughout his life. Whitman's professional career developed in the mining industry and eventually brought the Whitman's to Casper in 1968 where Jud was the Manager of Getty Oil's Petrotomics uranium operations in Shirley Basin. Whitman retired from Getty (now Chevron) in February of 1986. Whitman was active in the energy industry in Wyoming and was appointed to the State of Wyoming Council of Mineral Development in 1976 by Governor Ed Herschler. He was President of the Wyoming Mining Association from 1982-1983 and served on the Natrona County United Veterans Council. Jud loved living in Wyoming and was particularly passionate about fly fishing Wyoming's streams. Whitman was preceded in death by his parents and his wife Evelyn (September 2010). He is survived by his daughter RaeLynn (Dover) of Dallas, TX, his son Lon of Casper, his daughter Mamie of Denver and two grandchildren Ryan and Alyssa Dover. Friends are invited by the family to a visitation to be held at Bustards Funeral Home in Casper on Sunday, February 27th 4:00 PM to 5:00 PM. A Memorial Service will be held Monday, February 27th at 1:30 PM at the Oregon Trail State Veterans Cemetery Chapel, 89 Cemetery Road in Evansville, WY. Military Honors will be accorded by the Natrona County United Veterans Council and the Wyoming Army National Guard. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Wyoming Veterans' Memorial Museum (John Goss, Director - 3740 Jourgensen Ave. Casper, WY 82604 307-472-1857) or to the Wyoming Chapter of the Nature Conservancy.

Service

Monday, February 27, 2012 1:30pm

Oregon Trail Veterans Cemetery

Curtis Street

Evansville, Wyoming 82636

Visitation

Sunday, February 26, 2012 4:00pm - 5:00pm

Bustard's Funeral Home

600 CY Avenue

Casper, Wyoming 82601