Ray Allen Whitlock's Obituary
Ray Allen Whitlock, was born September 12, 1934, in Manti Utah. When he was eight years old he lost his father, Lawrence Whitlock, to pneumonia. His mom, Thelma Bown Whitlock continued to raise her family in Manti. Ray graduated from Manti High School, and then attended Snow College in Ephriam. At Snow College he met Norma Peterson, his future wife. Ray served a two year mission in the Southwest Indian Mission, covering parts of California, Arizona, and New Mexico. After his mission, he completed the last of his three years in the Army National, training in both California and Virginia. On April 2, 1958, Ray married Norma Jane Peterson in the LDS Manti Temple. They returned to San Diego, California where Norma was teaching school. Ray graduated from San Diego State College and began teaching in the Santee School District. He taught at Cajon Park and Pepper Drive schools, and was a principal of Santee School and later Chet F Herritt School. In 1976, Ray and Norma moved their family of three children to Alpine, Utah, to be closer to their relatives. Ray began teaching in the Jordan School District at Sunrise Elementary. Later he was principal of Terra Linda Elementary School. After the school district changed Terra Linda Elementary to the year round schedule, and a few years of being principal year round, Ray decided to return to teaching. He loved interaction with children and missed the classroom. He loved to not only teach the basic curriculum, but also brought enriching activities and speakers to his classes. He loved to teach his classes to believe in themselves and to reach for the stars. He spent a year teaching at Jordan Middle School and then returned to Sunrise Elementary School, where he taught his remaining years until he retired. In 1999, Ray and Norma served an 18-month mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints to Cebu, Philippines. After their return they enjoyed serving together for three years as missionary tour guides for the LDS Church Conference Center in Salt Lake City. Ray has been a devoted husband and father, truly living to bring the best knowledge of the world to his family. He and Norma loved to teach and share things with their family. The family loved their two week summer vacations visiting family in Utah, and touring the National Parks. Ray’s love of children continued on with his grandchildren, even beginning his weekly phone calls when each new grandchild was only two weeks old. To his grandchildren he was known as “Teaser Beaser.” Ray loved to do anything with his grandchildren, whether it was letting them ride on his lawn mower with him, hiding and finding easter eggs, pumpkin carving, swimming at the American Fork Rec center—where he would tease the kids, “You can go swimming but you can’t get wet.” Ray had many bedtime stories that are favorites, but not well known so they are associated with only him to his children and grandchildren. Ray will be sorely missed by his twenty-two grandchildren and his six (soon to be eight) great grandchildren. We are all comforted by the knowledge and testimony we share with him of the plan of salvation and of the knowledge we will be reunited with him after this life thanks to Jesus Christ. We are so grateful he shared this testimony with us often. We invite family, friends and former students to come celebrate his life with us at his viewing held at the Fort Canyon LDS Church on 890 N Main Street, in Alpine, Utah. The viewing times are Friday, July 6th, from 6-8pm at the church and again on Saturday, July 7th, from 9:45am through 10:45 am. The funeral will be held at the same location starting at 11am.
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