Russell Ames Whiting, age 95, passed away peacefully at St. Luke’s Baptist Hospital in San Antonio, Texas on Monday, January 2, 2012, surrounded by loving family members. He was born on June 24, 1916, in Crystal, Idaho, the third of 12 children of Lemuel Alma Whiting and Marcena Ames.
Russell was preceded in death by his parents, 7 siblings and his loving wife, Dorothy. He is survived by 4 children, Allen Russell Whiting and wife Rita; Roberta Elaine Brown and husband Roy; Gary Lee Whiting and wife Treila, all of Boerne; and Claire Corine Harris and husband Jerry of Mesa, AZ.; 22 grandchildren, 72 great-grandchildren and 4 great-great-grandchildren; brothers Calvin and Boice Whiting; and sisters Delcene Hughes and Shirley Rasmussen.
Russell was known to say, “I wasn’t born in Texas, but I got here as fast as I could!” He grew up near Pocatello, Idaho. In his early years, he milked a large herd of cows for his dad and later became a sheep herder in the nearby mountains where he vowed he nearly froze to death and almost starved to death. It is no wonder that at age 15, he hopped a freight train headed for the King Ranch in Texas to become “a cowboy”; however, he ended up in San Antonio. After being hired to work on the Crow Ranch near Boerne, he moved out on the ranch in 1933 during the depression, and worked for his room and board and clothes. This was, perhaps, the beginning of his future as a farmer and rancher in that area. He soon met and married his lovely wife, Dorothy Ertel, who was then a school teacher. They moved to the Crighton Ranch, where Russell was the foreman of the huge 2500-acre working ranch and where he became an avid hunter. It was there that their 4 children were born and raised. In addition to raising their own children, they graciously took eight other children into their home, caring for them as well, and provided care for several elderly in the community. They would later build their home on family land on Dodge Road, southwest of Boerne.
In addition to ranching, Russell also worked for the Torgerson Co. in San Antonio. He repaired machine parts for the 4th Army for two years and received two suggestion awards while repairing machine guns. Drought conditions during his farming years forced him to find other career opportunities with Service Butane. Russell was active in civic work all of his adult life. He served as an air raid warden and as a commissioned officer of the State Game and Fish Commission. He was a trustee with the Upper Balcones School until consolidation with Boerne, and several years ago, served as a trustee for the Boerne schools. He was selected as outstanding Conservation Farmer and Rancher of Zone 3 in Kendall County in 1958. Russell was well known for his honesty and hard work ethics.
He was instrumental in establishing the Boerne Branch of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, of which he was a founding member. The church has now grown into two active wards in Boerne. He and his family have held many lay leadership positions in the church in Boerne and San Antonio. His faith and his family were all important to him, and his example to all who knew him leave a legacy of Christian values for his posterity to follow.
A visitation will be held Friday, January 6, 2012, from 6-8:00 p.m. at Ebensberger-Fisher Funeral Home. His funeral will be Saturday, January 7, 2012, at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints at 11:00 a.m. Interment will follow at the Boerne Cemetery. To leave condolences for the family, please visit www.ebensberger-fisher.com and select the Obituaries tab. The family asks that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to a charity of your personal choice.
Arrangements with Ebensberger-Fisher Funeral Home of Boerne.