Gary L. Whitson

Dr. Gary L. Whitson, age 77 of Knoxville, entered life eternal on May 31, 2010 at Mercy residential Hospice, Knoxville. Dr. Whitson was a Professor Emeritus at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, where he retired from the Department of Biochemistry, Cellular and Molecular Biology. He served as a pre-medical student advisor for thirty years. Gary was born in Davenport, Iowa and graduated from Davenport Central High School. He received a B.S. degree in Biology from Augustana College, Rock Island, Illinois. After his college graduation, Gary served in the U.S. Army at Brooke Army Medical Center, San Antonio, TX and Landstuhl Army Medical Center, Landstuhl, Germany. Dr. Whitson received his M.S. and Ph.D. degrees from the Department of Zoology at the University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, where his research focused on cellular functions in protozoa. In 1963, Gary received a post-doctoral fellowship for research studies at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN. He published several books and numerous journal articles on cell cycle studies. Dr. Whitson joined the faculty of the Department of Zoology, University of Tennessee in 1968. He worked with several other biology professors to establish classes in cell biology. Gary was an enthusiastic teacher and thoroughly enjoyed his students and his research projects. While in Oak Ridge, Gary acted in several productions at the Oak Ridge Playhouse. Woodworking was a favorite hobby throughout his life. He was a member of the Smoky Mountain Woodcarvers and spent hours with his carving projects. Gary was a proud member of the Tuesday/Thursday teams for Habitat for Humanity. He loved music and was a choir member for many of his 42 years at Messiah Lutheran Church, Knoxville. Gary was preceded in death by his parents, Margaret and Robert Whitson; brothers, Robert and Carl Whitson; mother-in-law and father-in-law, Lourine and Fred Savely and brother-in-law, Col. Charles R. Savely. He is survived by his wife of almost 54 years, Mary Ellen Whitson; son, Randall S. Whitson and wife, Elizabeth of Knoxville; son, Steven K. Whitson and wife, Tricia, of Southlake, TX and son, Derek A. Whitson and wife, Krista of Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada; sister-in-law, Mary Savely and husband, Jim McManus of Davenport, Iowa; granddaughters, Christina Owens, Alicia Lucy and husband, Matthew; Meagan Whitson, Shannon Whitson, Isabella Desabrais, Macy Whitson and Annabelle Meyers-Whitson; great-granddaughters, Emily and Alexis Owens and Madeline and Sarah Lucy; nephews, Christopher Whitson and wife Carol, David Whitson and wife Karen, Michael Whitson, Peter Savely, Michael Savely and wife Cindy; niece, Sharon Lantzky and husband Jim and six great nephews and three great nieces. The family request that in lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Messiah Lutheran Church, Knoxville, 6900 Kingston Pike, Knoxville, TN 37919 or to Habitat for Humanity, Knoxville, 1501 Washington Ave., Knoxville, TN 37917.

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Gary L. Whitson

December 29, 1932 - May 31, 2010