Milton Ray Whitten

On Saturday, January 7, 2023, Milton Ray Whitten of Manteno, Illinois, loving husband, and father of four, passed away at the age of 92.
Milton (Ray) was born in Mount Carmel Illinois on April 6,1930 to Eunice Marie and Milton Virgil Whitten. While attending Mt. Carmel HS he was the class salutatorian, lettered in both basketball and football and was awarded an athletic scholarship to Southern Illinois University (SIU).
Ray graduated from SIU with a Bachelor of Science Degree in 1951, a Masters degree from University of Illinois in 1961, and a Ph.D. in Education Administration from SIU in 1970.

He began working at age 7, along with his father, delivering ice to homes, first by horse drawn carriage and then by truck. His teaching career began in Mt. Carmel, continued to Momence, IL as a Jr. High math and science teacher. Then to Beecher Elementary as teacher and coach. His education administration career started as Principal at Beecher Elementary, then as Principal at Crete Elementary and Jr. High School. He concluded his full-time career in education at School District 194 in Steger, Illinois as Assistant Superintendent for six years followed by the Superintendency, in the same district, for sixteen years. Not having had enough, Ray served as Educational Consultant to a variety of central Illinois school districts for many post-retirement years.

Ray served his community in the National Guard, as a member of the Crete Lions and South Chicago Heights Kiwanis clubs and as active volunteer at the Veterans Home in Manteno Illinois. His greatest joys were spending time with family including family reunions, reading, playing cards, and cheering for the Chicago Cubs. Especially throughout his retirement years, he cherished gathering unique and collectable art, sculptures, artistic glass, and furniture to make a beautiful home with Marcella the love of his life and wife of 50 plus years.
Milton Ray Whitten is survived by sister Melva Jean Reeve of Vincennes, IN, sons Sam (Kim) of Odessa, FL, Tom (Elayne) of Ellaville, GA, Mark (Charlotte) of Murfreesboro, TN, and Steve of Gulfport MS, six grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. He was preceded by his parents Milton and Eunice Whitten, sisters Frances Baily and Doris Barnett and wife Marcella (Stadt). The family will be forever grateful to the many angels that provided great care and shared joy with Ray in his later years including Val Turner, Joe Gonzales, Angela Gonzales, and Rose Cuatepotzo.

A celebration of his life will take place Wednesday, March 29, 2023 at Steger Memorial Chapel, 3045 Chicago Rd, Steger, IL 60475, from 3:00p.m. to 7:00p.m. Memorial service to take place Thursday, March 30, 2023 at 10:00a.m. at Steger Memorial Chapel, with committal service at St. Paul Lutheran Cemetery in Beecher, IL to follow.

Memorials may be made to the Manteno Veteran’s Home in Manteno, IL or any organization of the donor’s choice.