Howard V. Whitley, age 96, passed away Wednesday, October 14, 2015, at the Truman Healthcare facility in Lamar.
Howard was born June 13, 1919, near Stockton, MO. He grew up on the farm and stayed home and worked on the farm 2 years, after graduation from High School in 1938. He worked from 1941 to 1943 at G.&H. Tool Co., in Wichita, Kansas. There he built aircraft parts, and tools to build aircraft parts. In 1943 Howard went into the Army Air Corps. He spent 33 months in Air Craft Maintenance and Flight Engineering. When he was discharged from service, he farmed about a year and then opened a general garage and welding shop which he owned and operated until 1953.
In 1953 Howard went to work for Lawn-Boy Mfg. Co. in Lamar, MO, where he worked in the Engineering Dept. He was in charge of the Model shop for 5 years, where he built experimental model engines and lawn mowers from raw castings. "We tested all the new models, proving them for production. Howard said, “I went from the model shop into the Engineering Department as a design draftsman. Here our ideas were put on paper and were later turned into a workable production print. I worked for Lawn-Boy from April 1953 to September 30, 1963”.
When Lawn Boy left Lamar he went to work for Fairchild in Joplin, Mo., as a Design Engineer. He worked there until February 15, 1964, when he was offered a better job opportunity at Citation Mfg. Co. at Siloam Springs, Arkansas. Where he helped design and bring to production the ROBO Automatic Car Wash. In 1967 He went to work for Thorpe's and worked here until he retired.
Saturday, October 17th, 2015, 1:00pm - 2:00pm
Konantz Warden Funeral Home
1301 Gulf St
Lamar, MO
Service
Saturday, October 17th, 2015, 2:00pm
Konantz Warden Funeral Home
1301 Gulf St
Lamar, MO
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