John L. Wilhite

John L. Wilhite, age 68, of Grove, Oklahoma, formerly of Wellsville, Kansas, died Friday, October 27, 2017, in Grove, OK. He was born in Ottawa, Kansas, December 27, 1948 the son of Fred Wilhite and Bertha (Lester) Wilhite. John was a long time self-employed mechanic and Owner of Wellsville Tow. He worked in the Wellsville community his entire life until moving to Grove in 2016. He was a very community minded person, serving as the Mayor of Wellsville for twenty years from 1987 to 2007.. John was an avid golfer and proud member of Cherokee Grove Golf Course. He was loved racing cars when he could. On February 26, 1967 John was united in marriage with Joanna Hooker in Wellsville, KS. They just celebrated their fiftieth year of loving and devoted marriage. Mr. Wilhite is survived by his wife, Joanna Wilhite of Grove, OK, two sons; John Wilhite and his wife, Lisa, Wellsville, KS, Jack Wilhite and his wife, April, Ottawa, KS; four siblings, Karol Chenowith and her partner Danny Killman, Grove, OK, Margaret Messinger and her husband, Gordon, Columbia, MO, Fred Wilhite, Sturgeon, MO, Lester Wilhite, Gardner, KS; brother and sister in law, Dave and Janice Whalen, Wellsville, KS, brother in law, Robert Mignot, Warsaw, MO; four grandchildren, and 1 great grandchild. John is preceded in death by his parents Fred and Bertha Wilhite; father and mother in laws Howard and Katherine Hooker; and a sister, Bonnie Mignot. Funeral services will be 10:30 a.m., Thursday, November 2, 2017, at Lamb-Roberts Funeral Home Ottawa, Kansas. The family will meet with friends at Lamb-Robert Funeral Home from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday, November 1, 2017. The family suggests memorials to the John Wilhite Memorial Fund sent c/o Lamb-Roberts Funeral Home, P.O. Box 14, Ottawa, Kansas, 66067. Condolences may be e-mailed to the family through www.lamb-roberts.com. To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of John L. Wilhite please visit our Sympathy Store.

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