WHITWELL, Gordon H.

Daily Courier, Prescott, Arizona Saturday, February 16, 2008 Gordon H. Whitwell, age 96, died Feb. 11, 2008, in Spring Valley, Ariz. He was born in Parma, Ohio, and was raised on an Ohio farm. He met Irene Bene prior to WWII. He served in the U.S. Army in General Patton’s “Ghost Army” (wearing white sheets as camouflage against a snowy background). Gordon was one of the few survivors of the Normandy Beach Invasion. For his Army service, he received a Purple Heart and Bronze Star. Immediately after returning home safely from the war, he married Irene. They moved to Phoenix, Ariz., raised two sons, sold autos, then real estate, and finally retired from Del E. Webb’s Sun City. They moved to Spring Valley, Ariz., in the late ’80s. Gordon was preceded in death by his wife on Aug. 25, 2005. They were married 63 years. He is survived by sons Donald G. Whitwell (wife Debbie) and Gary A. Whitwell; grandchildren Michelle Whitwell Clapp, Chris Whitwell and Michale Whitwell; and great-grandchildren Jaiden Whitwell, Hailey Whitwell and Ashton Whitwell. A memorial service in honor of Gordon will be 2 p.m. Monday, Feb. 18, 2008, at Sunrise Funeral Home, Prescott Valley, Ariz. Arrangements entrusted to Sunrise Funeral Home. All friends and relatives are encouraged to visit www.sunrisefuneralhome.com for additional information and to sign the online guestbook. Information provided by survivors.