Jean Whitley, 93, of Orange, TX passed away on December 7, 2025.
The funeral will be held at 2 p.m., Sunday, December 14, 2025, at First United Methodist Church Orange. Officiating will be Pastor TJ Gabelman.
Visitation will be held Saturday December 13 from 4:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m at Claybar Funeral Home.
Born at home in Robeline, LA on April 7, 1932, he was the son of Jack & Ruby Whitley. His mother passed away when he was 11. A wonderful woman, Ethel Bates, came into their lives, marrying his Dad & loved and nurtured him. He was preceded in death by his parents Jack & Ruby Whitley, stepmother Ethel Bates Whitley, sister Marjorie W. Harvey, brother J.E. Whitley, and his wife Glenda.
Jean graduated from Robeline High School and started college at Northwestern University. The Korean War interrupted his education. He served in the Army from 1953-1955. He never spoke much of his service except of the great guys he served with and how bitterly cold it was in Korea. Upon returning from overseas, he continued at Northwestern, earning a degree in Chemistry.
He started working for Firestone in Lake Charles, LA in 1956, helping start up Firestone in Orange and transferring to Orange. He worked for Firestone for 38 years as a Chemist, retiring in 1994. He kept in touch with his Firestone friends at retirement coffees, West TX hunting trips and his walking group at Northway Park or phone chats.
Jean married Glenda Finnell in 1960 & they were married almost 62 years until her death in January 2021. Even though he grew up Baptist, he attended First United Methodist Church Orange after marrying Glenda. He supported the Methodist Men’s group with their various breakfasts and projects.
He was a hard worker all his life, starting around age 12 delivering ice blocks for his family’s grocery store. He did a stint on an oil company crew boat helping the cook and other boat chores. Later in life, he could still outwork most men ½ his age whether pouring concrete, doing yardwork or gardening.
Jean was a master at gardening. He learned to graft fruit trees and could grow most anything. When it was time to harvest, all the neighborhood kids came to dig potatoes, a first for many of them.
Jean was an honorable man who loved the simple things – Glenda’s cooking, watching football or basketball and visiting with family and friends. He made a mean Gumbo. He was a man of simple needs & few words. He was never too busy for his family, no matter what he was doing, to stop and help. In the 60’s, when most men came home from work not wanting to be disturbed, Jean would get on the floor and play with his daughters while Glenda cooked. That’s the kind of Dad he was.
As “Granddad”, he was extraordinarily proud of his granddaughter, Libby, who followed in his footsteps in the chemistry field.
Jean is survived by his daughters Cynthia (Roy) Osborn & Jennifer (Jeff) Harrison & granddaughter Libby, sister-in-law & brother-in-law Florence & Jerry Evans, and many nieces and nephews.
Jean enjoyed taking pictures throughout his life. We have great photos from his time in the Army and his transfers with Firestone to France, Brazil and South Africa.
He taught his daughters to love nature and all the creatures who had their place in it and not be so impatient. They have fond memories of watching birds or storms from the carport. His quiet strength will be missed.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to:
First United Methodist Church Orange
502 N Sixth Street Orange, TX 77630
National Audubon Society
Audubon.org
American Chemical Society Scholarships
Acs.org/donate
American Heart Association
Heart.org