Norman Willis Whitten

Beloved brother, father, grandfather and great-grandfather Norman Willis Whitten completed his journey to Paradise this morning, October 4, 2022 at Saline Memorial Hospital in Benton, Arkansas. He was under the care of Kindred Hospice at the time of his passing, and the family would like to express our heartfelt thanks to them for their gentle, loving care, as well as the entire nursing staff at Saline Memorial, especially Dr. Michael Davis. Mary and Christy with Southern Trace Rehabilitation were two of his favorite people (nurses.) He fought a good fight against a myriad of attacks by our enemy, and ultimately won the prize of eternal life with his Lord. Norman was born on March 6, 1943. He was 79.
Norman was a 17 year veteran of the U.S. Army, serving our country as a Warrant Officer Medical Helicopter pilot at various postings overseas including South Korea. During his service he was responsible for re-writing the service manual for the aircraft that he was flying, for which he was awarded the Army Commendation Medal. After leaving the Army, Norman served the public in Arkansas first as a nurse with St. Joseph’s Hospital in Hot Springs, Arkansas, Ouachita County Hospital in Camden, Arkansas, then as a Home Health Nurse for several years, leaving that service only to care full-time for our mother, Avalene Whitten Reynolds of Bearden, Arkansas, until her death in 2020. Norman was considered a delivering angel by all that came under his care.
Norman was a faithful member of the First United Methodist Church in Bearden, Arkansas, becoming a Methodist upon entering the Army when he forgot how to spell Presbyterian on his entry papers.
Norman was preceded in death by his father, Vernon Horace Whitten, and mother, Avalene Whitten Reynolds, and his brother, Horace Vernon Whitten. He is survived by his sister, Judy Freeman (Carl Conley), brother, Dr. David Whitten (Susan), brother, Raymond Whitten (Harriet), all of Texarkana, Texas, daughters Judy Moore of Bryant, Arkansas, and Reesa Guy (Terry)of Alexander, Arkansas. He leaves behind grandchildren, Joseph Michael Neumann of Little Rock, Caitlin Elizabeth Newmann of Little Rock, Aaron James Hackney of Mabelvale, Reesa Colleen Moore of Dallas, and great-grandchildren Kaiden Sanel Marjanovic, Caitlin’s son, and Margot Elise Neumann, Joseph’s daughter.
Graveside services will be 2:00 pm Monday, October 10, 2022 at Bethel Cemetery in Bearden with Rev. Greg Burks officiating. Arrangements by Benton Funeral Home of Fordyce. To sign the online register visit www.bentonfuneralhome.net .