Edward V. Whitney

Edward V. Whitney, 71, of Ottawa, Illinois, passed away Thursday, December 26, 2013, at OSF St. Francis Medical Center in Peoria. Mass of Christian Burial will be at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, December 30, 2013, at St. Columba Church with Rev. David Kipfer officiating. Visitation will be from 2:00 to 7:00 p.m. on Sunday, December 29, 2013, at Ottawa Funeral Home with prayers at 2:00 with the Knights of Columbus in attendance. He will be buried in Calvary Cemetery with Military Services. Ed was born September 18, 1942, in Ottawa, Illinois, to Vernon and Bertha (Bagley) Whitney. He married Dina Biffany of June 17, 1972, in Ottawa. She preceded him in death on February 8, 2009. He served in the U.S. Air Force in Japan. He retired from the Ottawa Police Department where he served as Chief and later retired from GE Plastics in Ottawa. He was a member of St. Columba Church, the 4th Degree Honor Guard Knights of Columbus, a lifetime member of the Ottawa River Rescue Squad, he served 18 years on the Ottawa City Council, and served as President of the Board at Friendship House. He is survived by his children, Charles E. Whitney, Edward C. Whitney, Denee Brown, Dana Brown, and Lucas Brown all of Ottawa; one brother, Mike Whitney; two great grandchildren, Makenna and Kaleigha; and two foster sons, Fred Carithers and Larry Ball. He was preceded in death by his parents and his wife, Dina. Pallbearers will be Wayne Eichelkraut, Dan Dammann, Javier Sanchez, Carl Carpenter, Cary Wright, and Bob Keith. Memorials may be directed to donors' choice.