Vernon Russell Wilhite

Vernon Russell Wilhite, age 75, of Gatesville passed away Friday, November 28, 2014. Funeral services will be 10:00 a.m., Tuesday, December 2, 2014 at Gatesville Church of Christ. Burial will follow at Pearl Cemetery. Visitation will be 5:00 – 7:00 p.m., Monday, December 1, 2014 at Scott’s Funeral Home. Russ was born on July 20, 1939 in Evant, Texas to Vernon E. and Leona Marshall Wilhite. He was the youngest of four children and the only boy. He grew up and attended school in Adamsville, Zephyr, and Evant, graduating from Evant High School in 1957. He married Sue Oney on December 24, 1957. They lived in Fort Worth and Odessa. He worked for Cummins Electric Supply Co. for 43 years. He became manager of the branch in Odessa, and retired in April 2000. After retiring, he and Sue moved to Gatesville. Russ was active in youth organizations such as, Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts for about 12 years. He was Assistant Scout Master and took the boys on camping trips to Scout Ranch and Rio Grande River. He was active in Order of the Arrow and helped build up the Buffalo Trails Scout Ranch near Fort Davis. He was also active in Jr. High and High School Band Boosters. He hardly ever missed a game that the kids marched at, helped with fund raising, and also attended other school activities. He participated in activities at Terrace Hills Church of Christ, accompanying youth on ski trips and such. Russ enjoyed fishing, puttering in his shop, working in his yard, and volunteering. He was on the Board of the Gatesville Care Center and volunteered there for about 11 years. He was an officer with the Murphree Cemetery Assn. in Evant for several years. He also delivered Meals-On-Wheels for 10 years. He was preceded in death by his parents; three sisters, Laverne Wilhite Greer Stafford, Barbara Ann Wilhite Johnson, and Patsy Wilhite Millsap; and one grandson, Jeffrey Schunemann. Russ is survived by his wife, Sue; three sons, David R. Wilhite and wife, Rebecca of Plano, Daniel R. Wilhite and wife, Valerie of Cedar Park, and Darren R. Wilhite of Gatesville; grandchildren, Russell L. Wilhite, Amanda Sue Wilhite, Kaylia Schunemann, Christopher Schunemann, David Michael Wilhite, all of the Plano area, and Rachel Cumpian, Andrew Wilhite, Hannah Wilhite, and Jacob Wilhite of Cedar Park; a number of nieces, nephews, great-nieces, and great-nephews; and many friends.