Verner G. Wilhite

Verner George Wilhite, son of the late George and Beulah (Decker) Wilhite, was born January 1, 1926, in Hammond, Indiana, and departed this life October 8, 2018, at his home in Raytown, Missouri. He was 92 years, 9 months, and 7 days of age.

Verner served his country in the United States Navy during World War II. He married Maxine Voiles on October 20, 1944. Two children were born to this union: Roy and Carol. Verner and Maxine lived in California and Colorado before retiring to Mountain Grove, Missouri, in 1977. Maxine passed away on September 16, 1994. He married Lola (Griffin) Atchison on February 14, 1996 in Grandview, Missouri.

Verner was a loving husband, father, step-father, and grandfather and was a faithful provider of the home. He respected and was grateful for all God had provided for him, therefore; he had a keen awareness of his possessions and the maintenance and repairs needed to take care of what he’d been given. He was an extremely hard worker and a good and faithful steward, always willing to serve the needs of others. Verner was full of laughter and was a generous, kind, and patient man. He was also a compassionate mentor and diligently studied God’s Word. Verner served as a Bible teacher of Apostle Paul’s Epistles at Grace and Glory Bible College in Mountain Grove, where he also attended services. In his spare time, he enjoyed fishing, lawn and gardening, and shopping garage sales and flea markets.

Besides his parents, Verner was preceded in death by one brother: Harold Wilhite; one sister: Margaret Wilhite; and by one step-son: Max Woodward.

He is survived by his wife, Lola, of Raytown, Missouri; one son: Roy “Kip” Wilhite and his wife, Maria, of Port Hueneme, California; one daughter: Carol Oatman and her husband, Ron, of Greenfield, Missouri; three step-sons: David Woodward of Topeka, Kansas, Richard Woodward of Osage City, Kansas, and Dennis Woodward of Bonne Terre, Missouri; four step-daughters: Sharon Romine and her husband, Gregg, of Osage City, Kansas, Penny Martinez and her husband, George, of Gardner, Kansas, Patricia Shelton and her husband, Randy, of Newton, Kansas, and Gloria Jackson of Ozawkie, Kansas; nine grandchildren, seventeen great-grandchildren, twenty-seven step-grandchildren, sixty step-great-grandchildren, and many other relatives, friends, and church family who will greatly miss him.
Verner always encouraged everyone with 2 Peter 3:18. “But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To Him be glory both now and forever. Amen.”