Dan Whitten, Jr.

Amos Daniel Whitten Jr., 99, longtime member of the Cleveland community passed from this life on November 18, 2020, at the Claremore Veterans Center.

Dan was born on March 20, 1921, in Tulsa, Oklahoma, the son of Amos Daniel, Sr. and Neita (Brashears) Whitten. Dan received his education in Tulsa graduating from Tulsa Central High School with the Class of 1938. During his time in school Dan was an active participant of the Central High School trac team. After graduation Dan was initiated into the oil fields of Oklahoma. Working for his father as a truck swamper, roustabout, tool dresser on a cable tool drilling rig. In 1939, Dan started his freshman year at Oklahoma A & M College in Stillwater. Dan also attended college at Oklahoma University from 40 till 43 graduating with B’s in geology. In 1943, Dan was drafted into the service of his country in the U.S. Army. Serving in the European Theater being discharged in 1946, as a 1st Lieutenant Field Artillery Forward Observer.

In 1954, Dan was united in marriage to the love of his life Anne Marie Jenni. Upon Dans return to the United States he attended graduate school at Oklahoma University. He also taught beginning geology classes and laboratories in addition to taking advanced geology courses. In 1948 Dan was a field geologist for Phillips Petroleum. His job included doing surface work in Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, Nevada, Utah, Arizona, New Mexico and Colorado. He returned to the Tulsa area in 1951, as a subsurface geologist in Oklahoma for Gulf Oil Corporation. Once again Dan returned to serve his country again during the Korean War however he did not go overseas. In 1953 till 1961, Dan returned working with his father. They drilled wells, cementing surface and productions casing, perforating, sand fracking and completion of wells. They also set tank batteries as well as placed lead lines for the wells and supervised pumpers for the locations. From 1961 till 1965, Dan worked as a private consultant for Sun Oil Company, Cotton Petroleum, O.R. Burden Construction Company, R.P Bates, Krumme Oil Company and numerous others, working in Oklahoma, Kansas, Texas Panhandle and North Texas. In 1965 till 1975, Dan worked as the core drill supervisor for the Minuteman Missile Sites in Oklahoma, Missouri, Colorado, Wyoming, North Dakota, Washington State and into California. In 1975 till 1985, Rainey Oil Company a small independent oil company in Tulsa started with no production, in 18 months following the knowledge that Dan possessed they had built the production to 500 barrels of oil per day. In 2000 thru 2009, Dan worked with various oil operators in Northeastern Oklahoma. Mr. Jerry Rogers of Cushing, Roy Lawrence of Pawnee helping raise their production to a total of 250,000 barrels of oil and 2 million cubic feet of natural gas in a short period of time. Dan was also helpful to E.W Carter of Hominy helping to raise his production substantially in a 10-year period of time.

Dan possessed a substantial amount of knowledge as a geologist. He was sought after by many for his knowledge of the Earth and its formations. Dan never boasted about his knowledge but was very forth coming with everything he knew. He was also a elder at the First Presbyterian Church in Cleveland. Serving as a delegate to the General assembly of the Presbyterian Church as well as a chairman of practically every committee of the Eastern Oklahoma Presbytery including moderator over 18,000 Presbyterians in the Eastern one third of Oklahoma.

Survivors are his three granddaughters Stephanie Brown of Guthrie, Oklahoma, Jessica Cheatham of Tulsa, Oklahoma, Alyssa Yandell of Cleveland, Oklahoma; daughter in law Diana Whitten of Cleveland, Oklahoma; three great-granddaughters Liberty and Hunter Brown of Guthrie, Oklahoma, Lucia Welch of Tulsa, Oklahoma; great grandson River Yandell of Cleveland, Oklahoma and a host of other relatives and friends that will mourn his passing. In addition to his parents, Dan was preceded in death by his wife Anne, son Jeff Whitten; two sisters Daisy Bond, Amaneita Campbell.

Memorial services will be held on 3:00 pm, Wednesday, November 25, 2020 at the Woodland Cemetery Chapel with Rev. Sandy Bach officiating. The cremated remains will be laid to rest in the Fort Gibson National Cemetery in Fort Gibson, Oklahoma. Chapman-Black Funeral Home will be handling the arrangements. Friends and family may visit an online guest book and memorial page for Dan at www.chapman-black.com.

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