Wanda Jean (Brown) Whitney

Wanda Jean Whitney, 98, of Carterville, passed away Wednesday, April 24, 2024, at her daughter’s home in rural Carterville, surrounded by her family.

Funeral services will be held at 1:00 p.m., Thursday, May 2, 2024, at Riggin-Pillatsch & Burke Funeral Home in Carterville, with Rev. Ryan Tacket officiating. Burial will be in Blairsville Cemetery. Visitation will be from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., Thursday, at the funeral home.

Memorial contributions can be made to the First Baptist Church in Carterville.

Wanda was born January 10, 1926, in Cambria, to Georgia M. (Allsup) and Hobart M. Brown. She married Kenneth Storme and from that union, they had four daughters,  Janice, Pam, Kendra, and Gail and twin boys, Michael and Milton. Later in life, Wanda was blessed to marry Paul Whitney Jr. on June 14 1986, in Carterville. He preceded her in death on November 9, 2011.

She is survived by her daughters, Kendra (Chris) Homoya, and Gail (Trent) Johnston; son-in-law, Denny Lingle; “bonus” son, Bill (Diana) Baker; step-children, David (Kristie) Whitney, and Kim (Charlie) Guymon; grandchildren, Jill Fisher Johnston, Jeff (Meg) Fisher, Mendy Davey, Ryan (Carla) Coleman, Andrea (Marshall) Synder, Nathanael (Taylor) Johnston, Doug Whitney, Megan (Scott) Panther, Chris Guymon, Matt (Tiffany) Homoya, and Megan Homoya Zeller; great-grandchildren, Nicholas and Ellie Fisher, Connor, Ashley, Carson, and Carter Blake, Charlie and Hanna Coleman, Audrey (Toby) Farrar, Samuel and Storme Snyder, Nate and McCoy Johnston, Sunny, Declan Panther, MacKenzie Homoya and Ivory Zeller; great great-granddaughters, Charlotte and soon to be, Ruthie; brother, Hobart (Mary Lou) Brown Jr.; plus many wonderful nieces and nephews and sister-in-law, Sharon Venable.

Wanda was preceded in death by her parents; husband; daughters, Janice Lingle and Pam Coleman; infant twin sons, Michael and Milton; brother, Argel Brown; an infant sister; sister-in-law, LaDonna Waldron, great friends and her beloved dog, Skeeter.

She has been an active member of First Baptist Church in Carterville for decades.  She accepted the Lord as her personal Savior as a young girl at the First Baptist Church in Cambria.  She had a strong faith and trusted Him through the many ups and downs of life.  Her most cherished accomplishment was raising four beautiful girls as a stay-at-home mother.  She always had a longing to have twin boys. When the Lord blessed her with them, Micheal and Milton were born prematurely and passed away at 1 and 3 days old.  The son she always wanted would come later on when a little boy name, Billy came into her life. 

Throughout Wanda's life, you could find her helping others.  Whether that be in her own home raising her children or outside the home, Wanda was always there for others.  She was a CASA volunteer, volunteered at the Pink Geranium at the Carbondale Hospital for many years as well as volunteering to transport foster children.

Wanda worked at Morris Library, Southern Illinois University-Carbondale for over 16 years. Prior to that, she was the first bookstore manager at the then new, John A. Logan College.  She also worked as a Real Estate agent as well as at Phillip’s Dress Shop in Carbondale and the Circuit Clerks office at the Williamson County Court House.

She thoroughly enjoyed spending time with her young grandchildren, making DIY crafts, showing them how to crochet and teaching them to play cards,    “1st you draw, then you play, then you discard that’s the way”.  And then became a wonderful listening ear to those same grandchildren who were now raising their own children.

Wanda enjoyed golfing and was the 1962 Women’s Club Champion at Crab Orchard Golf Course.  She also participated on bowling leagues for many years.  And was co-owner of thoroughbred horses.

Wanda and Paul were blessed to have over 25 years of fun together.  They enjoyed outdoor activities such as hiking and gardening as well as woodworking and searching for those “good finds” at auctions and estate sales.  Later in life, she enjoyed hobbies of painting and crocheting.

We were blessed to have the best of the best caregivers. Thanks so much Stephanie, Keila, Hope, Ellie, Jeanie, Taylor and Imani.

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