Wilhite-Tribute-Column

Jerry E. Wilhite 1940- 2011
(10:30 Central Time- April 21, 2011) The loss of a friend and associate is never easy. But when that friend was a soul mate through thick and thin, good times and bad times for 60 plus years, it is especially rough. The call came from Jeff Mendoza, Jerry's step son. He was especially hard hit naturally but it struck me that this was the effect this life had on almost everyone, kin and no so kin, close and not so close, Wilhite was one of a kind. For some months now it was sometimes spoken but always unspoken, we both knew his life was coming to an end. Serious health problems had ravaged his body but his sense of humor and fair play, sophistication with a common touch was always there..even in these last times we spent together on the phone and on the computer.

He wrote some funny, some serious but always columns with the touch of the common man. Jerry had a good life at times, from humble beginnings here in Muskogee to a life that allowed him to run with millionaires and live the good life. He didn't always have it so good, he was like me a kindred spirit who somehow would fall into a cess pool but always come out smelling like a rose. He passed away in Washington State. He loved the west coast and his widow Helen was a California girl in every way but I think she was born in Massachusetts. At least his last few months were spent in a place he seemed to like very much, it wasn't his beloved California but it was close.

I met Jerry of all places at Calvary Baptist Church. His parents and my parents were devout Christians and dedicated Baptists. Well at least his mother was, Jerry worshipped his dad who died at any early age of a heart attack. I assume that is what finally got Jerry as well. He had been battling congestive heart failure, severe diabetic symptoms and a few other ailments for years now. I felt like calling him yesterday but didn't as I was busy. Too bad I would liked to have had one last conversation with him on this Earth, he was always insightful and full of wisdom.

In Junior High and High School, we were almost inseparable. We had the same desires and love for competitive speech, writing, girls, baseball and neither of us were what would even be called middle income. We were pretty poor. That seemed to be one of the driving forces behind his later success in life. Don't get me wrong, we weren't wealthy but we were able to figure out how to run with the best and even though growing up in the 50s was full of class pitfalls, it never seemed to stop either of us.

There are so many things about Wilhite and my life, but lets just say we were able to survive with a friendship that was much more than just high school buddies. Jerry Elmer Wilhite, known by many as JW, but I always knew him as Wilhite because both of us had the first name, Jerry. Jerry ended this life far away from the roots of the Oklahoma Hills but he always felt fondness for this area even after he became a man of the world and saw sophisticated life styles around the world, he was still a Muskogee guy. We will miss him. Yea, Wilhite was my buddy til the end.
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