Robert Easton Whitten of Joplin, age 79, passed away on Thursday, December 15, 2016.
Robert was born on October 15, 1937 to the late Ivan and Lois Bernadine Smith Whitten in rural Corbin, Kansas. After attending elementary school and high school in Wichita, Kansas, he then completed an undergraduate degree in Psychology at Wichita State University in 1959. Robert continued his education at the University of Nebraska, receiving his Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology in1965. In the 1980's, Robert completed a major in Mathematics at Pittsburg State University, also became an associate fellow of the Institute of Rational-Emotive Psychotherapy in 1978.
He began a fourteen year career in 1966 at three pioneering Community Mental Health Centers in El Dorado, Kansas, Bowling Green, Kentucky and Pittsburg, Kansas. In 1980, he began his own private practice as a Clinical Psychologist in Pittsburg and Joplin. Robert worked in the area until his death, serving both individual clients and state agencies.
Robert remained a life-long student, not only of psychology, but setting aside time every day to study mathematics, science, politics, history or philosophy. He loved to talk with his wife and many friends about all of those topics.
Robert married Margaret Ann Noonan in Pittsburg, Kansas, May 8, 1981, she survives at the home.
Additional survivors are a daughter, Laurie Johnson and her husband, Mike of Mesa, Arizona; brother, Douglas Whitten of Springfield, Missouri; sister, Elaine Glady of Texas; four step grandchildren, Kirsten Burke, Kelsey Garcia, Alysa Bennett of Pittsburg, Kansas, Craig Johnson of Phoenix, Arizona.
A son, Reid Whitten preceded Robert in death at the age of eight in 1974.
A celebration of his life will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to the Joplin Humane Society in care of the mortuary.
Cremation arrangements are under the direction of Parker Mortuary, Joplin, Missouri.
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