The passing of Don and Helen Whitehead

I was so excited to see these rare photos of my Grandma Castle's family at her brother Don Whitehead Miller's funeral. Don was my dad's uncle.

(l to r) Baby Bobby, Don

Skip, Colleen

Benjamin Whitehead (father)

Rose English (mother)

Don and Colleen

Don

Rose with Colleen, Skip, and Baby Don 

(l to r) Don, Bobby, Colleen, and Skip in the back

Don

Rose playing with the boys

Bobby, Don, and Rose

Don and buddies

Don's successful aircraft manufacturing business

Don died within a few weeks of his wife of 60-something years, Helen. He had a good, tender heart but kept a tough exterior. He loved the gospel message and especially the music of the Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square (his daughters Cindy and Kim sang in the Choir for many years), but he never joined the Church. Helen served faithfully in the Church her whole life. They worked together to build and manage their aircraft manufacturing business and did very well. They had four daughters: Linda (from Helen's previous marriage), Cindy, Kim, and Debbie. Just a couple of years before his death, Don found he had another daughter he had never known existed. He and Helen welcomed her wholeheartedly into the family.

Growing up, his mother, Rose, separated from their father and moved hours away with Don and his baby brother, Bobby, while his father raised Skip and Colleen. The kids were told that Rose had health problems that necessitated the move. Only near the end of his life would Don find out another reason their family lived apart. Benjamin Whitehead was not his father.