Dewey C. Whitenton

Dewey C. Whitenton, 74, of Bolivar, passed away Thursday, Feb. 12. He was born in Bolivar and married Margaret 'Marne' Ellen Davis on April 30, 1960. Dewey was a graduate of Bolivar Central High School. He received his Bachelor of Arts Degree and his Doctor of Jurisprudence from the Vanderbilt University. He served six years in the US Army and the Tennessee National Guard. Prior to undertaking his judicial duties, he was engaged in the general practice of law in Bolivar for more than 17 years, and was also county attorney.



In 1976, he was appointed as Chancellor Court Judge of the Twenty-fifth Judicial District of Tennessee which is composed of Fayette, Hardeman, Lauderdale, McNairy and Tipton Counties. Judge Whitenton first became a member of the American Bar Association in 1971, and he became active in the Judicial Division and the National Conference of State Trial Judges for more than 25 years. He served as Chairman of the task force on State Judicial Associations. He was appointed by the Tennessee State Legislature and the Governor, as a member of the commission on the Uniform Probate Code, to study and make Recommendations for changes in Tennessee Probate Laws. He served continuously for 30 years until his retirement in 2006. After retirement, he remained active as Bolivar City Attorney and as Rule 31 mediator.



Judge Whitenton has been involved with the activities of numerous civic and charitable organizations in Bolivar and surrounding areas, including Heart Fund, Cancer Fund, Carl Perkins Center for Domestic and Child Abuse, The Hardeman County Arts Council, and the Boy and Girl Scouts of America. He has served as President of the Bolivar Rotary Club, and was a Paul Harris Fellow, and had more than 26 years of perfect attendance. He was previously Chairman of the Administrative Board and Chairman of the Board of Trustees for the First United Methodist Church of Bolivar and had been a teacher of the Men's Bible Class for more than 42 years.



Survivors include his wife and their three children: Carol Whitenton, David Whitenton and his wife, Carol Ann, and Joel Whitenton and his wife Tamara. Surviving grandchildren include Joel Davis Whitenton II, Chandler Whitenton, Connor Whitenton, Kate Whitenton and Emma Whitenton. He was preceded in death by his parents, Dewey and Lorena Whitenton.