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Leonard V. Whitney, Sr.
CWO/3 USN (Ret)

Leonard V. Whitney, 89, of Bremerton passed away on February 15, 2003, after a lengthy battle with cancer. He was born November 21, 1913, in Farnam, Nebraska, to Vincent Garfield Whitney and Maud Lina Munsil.

Upon graduating from Farnam High School in 1932, he joined the U. S. Navy that September. After completing recruit training in San Diego, California, he was assigned to a destroyer tender, USS Dobbin.

Leonard met and married Ferne Lois VanBuren in August 1936. They were married for 53 years and raised three children, Vance G. Whitney (deceased), Leonard V. Whitney Jr., Olympia, WA., and Lynda Helen Clayton of Bremerton, WA.

In May 1939, he was stationed aboard the submarine tender, USS Canopus, in Manila Harbor, Philippine Islands. When the American forces surrendered and Corregidor fell, he became a Prisoner of War of the Japanese. In 1944, he was taken to Japan in a Japanese "Hell Ship." He worked in a copper mine in Hitachi, Japan, until liberated by American forces in August, 1945. In 1950, he participated in troop landings in Korea. His numerous awards and decorations include the Bronze Star and the Presidential Army Unit Citation with an Oak Leaf. He retired from the U.S. Navy in December 1955 as a Commissioned Chief Warrant Officer 3, having served 23 1/2 years. Leonard completed his second career with the Washington State Ferry system in 1975, having served 20 years.

His leisure time was spent traveling, hunting, fishing, gardening, and he particularly enjoyed spending time with his family.

Leonard was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers, Everett and Clyde Whitney, and an infant sister, Helen. His wife, Ferne Lois died in 1989 and his eldest son Vance G. died in 1997. He is survived by his son, Leonard V. (Carolyn) Whitney Jr., Olympia, a daughter Lynda Helen Clayton, Bremerton, 4 grandchildren (Denise, Teri, Jeremy, and Daryl) and 13 great-grandchildren.

Services will be held on Thursday, February 20, 2003 at 2:00 p.m. at Miller-Woodlawn Funeral Home in Bremerton. Donations may be made to the charity of your choice.

http://www.thesunlink.com/redesign/2003-02-19/local/tributes/77684.shtml

Tokyo POW Camp #1 Kawasaki American Roster



Published: 3/18/2024 - http://www.historicfarnam.us/cemetery/obits/index.asp
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