John Whisenant

John Whisenant MORGANTON John Murray Whisenant, 62, a native of Burke County, passed away July 11, 2011, at his home in Lewiston, Idaho, following a long period of declining health. John was born Dec. 18, 1948, to the late Mary Ernestine Miller Whisenant and John Clifton Whisenant in Morganton. "Johnny" was a 1967 Morganton High School graduate, and in 1971 graduated from N.C. State University with studies in forestry and a major in philosophy. John was an avid rock climber and outdoorsman in his youth and was an instructor at the Outward Bound School in western North Carolina. Following graduate work in philosophy at the University of Massachusetts, John worked in the northwest U.S. in the forestry industry before completing studies at Washington State University in Computer Science. He worked for a number of years in computer programming/software development at the Dept. of Agriculture of the University of Idaho, Moscow Idaho, and other locations, including Warner Robins Air Force Base in Georgia. In addition to his parents, he is preceded in death by his brother, Albert Clifton "Bert" Whisenant, and his sister, Gail Ann Whisenant. John is survived by his sister, Mary Helen Young, and her husband, Stephen, of Calabasas, Calif.; and by a nephew, Jeffrey C. Young and a niece, Stephanie C. Young, both of Washington, D.C. The graveside service will be held at 11:30 a.m., Saturday, July 30, at Forest Hill Cemetery with the Rev. Michael Riley officiating. The family will receive friends from 10 a.m. until 11 a.m. Saturday at Sossoman Funeral Home and Crematory Center. Memorial contributions can be made to Meals on Wheels of Lewiston, Idaho (checks payable to Senior Nutrition) 1424 Main St., Lewiston, ID 83501; or to North Carolina Outward Bound, c/o Development Dept., 2582 Riceville Road, Asheville, NC 28805; or to Calvary Lutheran Church, 119 N. King St. Morganton, NC 28655.

Condolences may be made online at www. sossoman funeral service.com

Published in The News Herald on July 28, 2011