Halbert Lavon Whisenhunt

Halbert Lavon Whisenhunt was born December 12, 1923, in Harper County to Joseph Plummah Whisenhunt and Elva Etta Arnett Whisenhunt. His family established their farm in Beaver County when he was one or two years old, and he lived there the rest of his life. He passed away peacefully at home on December 17, 2021, at the age of 98 years and 5 days.

Hal graduated from Gate High School in 1942 and attended Friends University in Wichita, where  he also played basketball. He left school to join the United States Merchant Marine. He served proudly as a Merchant Seaman on Liberty Ships and Victory ships during World War II, transporting supplies to the Pacific.  He saw post-war Manilla and Tokyo, then returned to Friends University after his discharge.

He met Ava Marie Nelson, a student at St. Francis School of Nursing, and they were married in 1949, after her graduation. Hal and Ava settled in at the Whisenhunt family farm and raised four children,  wheat and cattle.

He and his brother-in-law Wayne Dunn had a water well-drilling business for several years, and Hal became well-known as an excellent water witcher. He could tell you how deep you should drill to find water, and how much was there.

Halbert was a Life Member of the Gate Friends Church. He loved his community, and served faithfully on many boards and committees in Beaver County and western Oklahoma. He very seldom missed any of his children's church or school activities

He was preceded in death by his wife Ava in 2017. Also preceding him were his parents, his oldest son Dennis, and his sister Opal Dunn.

Halbert is survived by his son and two daughters, Doug Whisenhunt , Judy and Mike Throckmorton, and Joan and Phil Mosier, grandchildren  Robert and Terry Whisenhunt, Amy and Mike Quinn, Sara and Eddie Juarez, Allison and Cody Amparan, Tom Whisenhunt and fiance Chriss, Grant and Melissa Gibson, Joe Throckmorton, Michelle and Adam Colclasure, Sarah Adams and Philip Mosier, and 14 great grandchildren, and 3 great-great-grandchildren.

Obit to follow