On Wednesday, January 28, 2009, Ira D. "Bud" Whiteman died with his wife by his side, at the Fairways at Brookline Village, in State College. Born April 16, 1928, in Oak Hall, Bud was the son of Ira Daniel and Mary Elizabeth (Ross) Whiteman, both of whom preceded him in death. On March 17, 1956, he married the former Patricia Hoy, who survives at home.
Bud was honorably discharged from the U.S. Army Air Corps on October 18, 1949, having served from 1946-49. He worked most of his life as a dairy farmer in Centre County. In 1956, he and Pat bought their farm off of Tusseyville Road in Centre Hall, where they raised their three children while tending to their livestock and fields. In 1976, while continuing to work his own farm, Bud began working for Doebler's Hybrids, serving as a district sales representative for 18 years. He retired from farming in the early 1990s, and had lived in State College since 2002.
Bud was very knowledgeable about all phases of farming. He was one of the original members of the board of directors of the Pennsylvania Farm Bureau Association when that organization was founded in 1957, and served on the board for many years, including a term as vice president. He served as a voting delegate at the association's annual meetings in Hershey, PA., and was voted Member of the year in 1989.
In 1959 and 1960, he won the Pennsylvania State Plowing Contests, first in Contour Plowing and then in Level Land Plowing. He was active in the Centre-Clinton County Dairy Herd Improvement Association, and in 1976, he took top honors in the 500-pound Production Division.
He served on the boards of the Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation Service and the Soil Conservation Service and spent 10 years on the board for the Agricultural Land Preservation Trust. He also was a trustee on the Centre Community Hospital Board, served a number of years as a Potter Township supervisor, and was a member of the 144 Bypass Committee. He was a life member of the Elks.
Bud's love of people is evidenced by the wide circle of friends he leaves behind. He possessed a quick sense of humor, enjoyed traveling, and loved music, especially anything he could dance to. He and his wife often traveled to participate in his favorite pastimes of square dance and ballroom dance.
In addition to his wife, Bud is survived by three children, in whom he instilled the values of hard work and love of family: David C. Whiteman and his wife Connie Kossan of Colyer, Beth Whiteman of Boalsburg, and Christopher R. Whiteman and his wife Jill of Garnerville, NY; four grandchildren: Alex Whiteman of Denver, CO., A.J. Whiteman of Boalsburg, and Jennifer and Rachel Whiteman of Garnerville, NY. He also leaves behind his former daughter-in-law and close family friend, Melissa Altman.
In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by a sister; Anna Bechtol and a half brother Glenn Ross.
At the family's request there will be no visitation. A funeral service will be held Tuesday, February 3, 2009 at 10:30 AM at the Mark D. Heintzelman Funeral and Cremation Service, 1034 Benner Pike, State College, with the Reverend Russell Sauerwein officiating.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial contributions be made to the following: ClearWater Conservancy, 2555 N. Atherton Street, State College, PA 16801; the Centre County Farm Land Trust, c/o The Willowbank Building Planning Office, 420 Holmes Street, Bellefonte, PA 16823, or Brookline's Employee Fund, 1950 Cliffside Drive, State College, PA 16801.
A guest book can be signed or condolences sent to the family at www.heintzelmanfuneralhome.com.