MAJ WHITTINGTON RITES MEMORIALIZE WAR VICTIM [July 14, 1949]



Memorial services for Maj. Cyrus A. Whittington, Sapulpa airman who was killed in action in Tunisia, North Africa, April 25, 1943, were held at 2 pm Thursday at the First Baptist Church. Rev. Charles Black, pastor, officiated.



Pallbearers for the reburial ceremony for the Sapulpa hero were Lewis Kelly, n. R. Bennett, Jr., Frank Kelly, Robert Kelly, Roy Bevenue and Harley Wiggins, Tulsa, [Oklahoma].



Maj. Whittington's body was returned to his home town this week along with 35 other Oklahoma airmen who were killed during the war.



REDEDICATION RITES:

Rededication ceremonies were held at the Enid Air Force Base earlier in the week at which time the Enid Base named Vance Field in honor of Lt. Col. Leon R. Vance, Jr. Vance was an Enid man . Streets of the Enid Air Base were named for Maj. Whittington and his 33 air [force] dead companions.



Other Creek counties honored at the ceremony were Maj. Quince L. Brown , Bristow and Capt. Robert E. L. Goad, Drumright.



Maj. Whittington was born Aug. 5, 1916 in Drumright. [Oklahoma]. He moved to Sapulpa with his parents in 1925 and attended Sapulpa schools. He was graduated from SHS with the class of 1936 and went then to Bacone College at Muskogee. He was a member of the First Baptist Church.



ENLISTED IN AIR CORPS:

Shortly after finishing college, he enlisted in the Air Corps. He began his training at the Spartan School of Aeronautics in Tulsa. From there he was transferred to Randolph Field, and then to Kelly Field in San Antonio. He received his wings and lieutenancy there.



Transferred to McChord Field, Washington, Whittington received his promotion to captain. From McChord Field he was sent to Columbia Air Base, Columbia, S. C., and was soon promoted to the rank of major.



MARRIED IN WASHINGTON:

While stationed at McChord, he met and married Miss Bonnie Braley of Tacoma, Wash. The couple had a son, Robert Leonard, a survivor. Other survivors include the father, W. A. Whittington of Sapulpa; a brother, Leonard of Oklahoma City; and two sisters, Mrs. Jimmie Powshiek and Mrs. Sylvia Long, both of Sapulpa.



While still based in the States , Maj. Whittington was sent to Brazil on special assignment where he stayed three months.



The Democrat News newspaper, page 1, in Sapulpa, Oklahoma on July 14, 1949.