Arnold Benton Willhite

CHESHIRE - Arnold Benton "Jack" Willhite, 86, of Cheshire passed away at Masonic Healthcare on Monday, April 2, 2007. He was the beloved husband of Laura Freitag Willhite for 63 years. Born in Oden, Arkansas on Nov. 12, 1920, he was the son of the late Willis and Etna (Fryar) Willhite and was a resident of Cheshire for the past 58 years living in the house that he built. He was educated in the Oden schools, joined the United States Navy in 1939 and was at Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941. He graduated from the Submarine School in New London in 1942 and served on submarines for the duration of World War II. He was also present at the Peace Treaty Ceremony in Tokoyo Bay in 1945. Jack worked for various trucking companies in Connecticut and later formed his own over-the-road trucking business. He was employed at Wyatt Oil Company in New Haven as a power engineer until his retirement in 1984. He was a member of Masonic Lodge #l6 A.F.&A.M., the Central Connecticut Chapter of Submarine Veterans of World War II and V.F.W. Post 9965 of Yalesville. In addition to his wife, he is survived by his four children, Arnie Willhite and his wife, Sherry of Wallingford, Jim Willhite and his wife, Sandy, Donna Timm and her husband Jesse, and Janet Willhite of Meriden; his ten grandchildren, Lori, Marc and Colleen Willhite, Ryon Morett, Sonja, Eric and Elizabeth Willhite, Leila and Coniah Timm and Joline (Timm) Gniazdowski and her husband, Steve. He is also survived by his great-grandchildren, Samantha, Alexis and Aidan Morett and two brothers, Olan Willhite of Williamson, NY and Donald Willhite of Stockton, CA. The funeral will be held Thursday, April 5, at 10:30 a.m. at the Beecher and Bennett Flatow Funeral Home, 48 Cook Ave., Meriden. Burial will follow in Gethsemane Cemetery, Bee St., Meriden. The Rev. Eric Fjeldal will officiate. Relatives and friends may call Wednesday from 4 to 8 p.m. at the funeral home. Contributions in Arnold's memory may be made to Submarine Veterans of WW II, Ed Childs, Memorial Chairman, U.S. Submarine Veterans, Inc., 40 School St., Groton, CT 06340, or to a charity of one's choice.