Thomas Whitener

Thomas Oliver Whitener, Sr., 84, of Burton, died May 5, 2005, in College Station. The Whitener family has been identified with the Washington County area since 1853, when Oliver s grandfather settled south of Burton. Oliver was born and raised on the original homestead, where he lived his entire life. He left briefly to attend Brenham High School and Texas A&M, then returned to take over the operation of the ranch at the age of 19. Oliver s father was 58 years old when he was born June 8, 1920, and he has often said, I almost didn t get here! His father, Aaron S. Whitener, Jr. was born during the Civil War. In 2003, the Whitener Ranch celebrated its 150th year of continuous operation. It is one of the oldest ranches in Washington County and the state of Texas. Oliver was a rancher all his life. His home in Burton has a family museum containing many artifacts and has an extensive arrowhead collection of over 800 points. He started collecting them as a boy, finding about half of them and buying the rest from kids at school for a nickel each. He found many of them in cotton fields and along creek beds where Indian campsites had been in Washington County, primarily around the Burton area. Being a lifetime resident of Washington County, Oliver left an indelible impression on his friends and family while participating in and contributing to community functions. Oliver is revered by his children and seven grandchildren. He and his late wife, Eloise, raised their three children, Tom, Bob, and Michelle on their ranch. Their children attended the Burton schools, where Oliver served on the school board for 20 years. After that he continued to serve Washington County by being elected to the Blinn College Board of Trustees for 12 years where he served as a member and as chairman. All three of his children attended Blinn College. In 1968, Oliver was nominated to the board of the Burton State Bank on which he served for 27 years as a board member and as chairman. He was a charter member of the Burton Lions Club, formed in 1971, and served as treasurer for 32 years while winning the prestigious Melvin Jones Fellow Award. For over 25 years, Oliver served as chairman of the Washington County Fair Beef Cattle Committee. His three children participated in the fair by showing Hereford steers for many years. He also served as president of the Gulf Coast Hereford Association Chapter for over 25 years. For 21 years from 1980 to 2001, he served on the Washington County Appraisal District Board. Oliver also served as chairman of the finance committee of the Brenham Methodist Church where he, his wife of 54 years, Eloise, and their children were faithful members for many years. He was also active in the Methodist Men organization of the church. Oliver was the president of the historic Burton Oak Hill Cemetery Association for 30 years and in 2003 he was honored to serve as grand marshal in the Burton Cotton Gin Festival. In 2005, Oliver Whitener was selected as Washington County Chamber of Commerce Man of the Year. Oliver contributed his time, talents and money to Washington County functions, but he was most famous for his hand-carved walking canes. He made over 500 canes using wood from trees found in Washington County and throughout the United States and all over the world. They are works of art, made from 55 different kinds of wood, of which he had one of each in his personal collection. He gave over 450 canes away to his friends, family and to Washington County charities. He never sold a single cane. He said many times, I d rather give them away than sell them. That would take a lot of the joy away if I sold them. In 2004, his donated canes brought well over $10, 000.00 to charities in the Burton area. The last cane to ever be auctioned brought a record $6, 025.00 this past year. In Oliver s lifetime his canes brought a total sum of almost $90, 000.00 for community charities. He will always be remembered around Washington County and the state of Texas for his woodworking skills and has been profiled on Texas Country Reporter as well as being mentioned in numerous newspaper articles. Several years ago he wrote a book of his memoirs titled, Days Long Gone. Although he wrote it for his family, his friends began reading and requesting it, and over 300 copies have been given away since. He was not only a talented writer, but entertained his family and friends with his storytelling ability for years. Oliver always put family, friends, and community first in his life. He will always be remembered as a man of honor and dignity and for his generosity and enormous contribution to Washington County. Survivors include two sons and daughters-in-law, Thomas O., Jr. and Janet Whitener of Dallas and Robert G. and Wanda Whitener of Burton; one daughter and son-in-law, Michelle and Steve Bishop of College Station; seven grandchildren, J. Kori Whitener, J. Keli Whitener St. Peter and husband Jason, Jared Robert Whitener, Kyle Aaron Whitener, Kent Ivan Whitener Hemphill, Brett Whitener Hemphill and Matthew Ross Bishop; and three sisters, Ura Lee Vick of College Station, Jane Gatewood of Brenham and Ethel Smith of Virginia. The family will receive visitors at Memorial Oaks Chapel from 6:00-9:00 p.m. Saturday, May 7. A memorial service will be at 3:00 p.m. Sunday, May 8 in First United Methodist Church in Brenham with Glen Schoeneberg and Dr. Wesley Welborn officiating. Honorary pallbearers will be Jared Whitener, Kyle Aaron Whitener, Kent Hemphill, Brett Hemphill, Matt Bishop, Jason St. Peter, Sam Wostal and Bill Shaw. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to Burton service organizations supported by Oliver s donated canes: Burton Cotton Gin and Museum, Burton Lions Club, Burton Volunteer Fire Department and Burton American Legion. Funeral arrangements are entrusted to Memorial Oaks Chapel, 1306 W. Main St., in Brenham.