Obituary of Norman H. Whitling

Oil City- Norman H. Whitling, 80, of Oil City, formerly of Sarasota, FL and Port Allegany, PA, went home to be with his Lord and Savior on Tuesday (October 11, 2011). He was born April 10, 1931 in Oil City, a son of James W. and Bessie Mae Watson Whitling. On Oct. 3, 1953, in Oil City, he married Frances Jean Shorts, who died in November 16, 2001. He then married Shirley O'Neil-Shirey on Feb. 14, 2005, who survives. Mr. Whitling graduated from Cranberry High School and served in the U.S. Army from 1949 to 1952 during the Korean Conflict. Mr. Whitling was a mold maker, employed by Foster Forbs, Oil City, then Tropicana Glass, Bradenton FL, and finally for Ball Incon, Port Allegany, retiring in 1993. He was a faithful member of the Oil City Church of the Nazarene, where he served as Sunday School Superintendent and teacher, Minister of Visitation, mentored the youth, and was involved with the Golden Living Center Ministry. He enjoyed reading his Bible, golfing, hunting, gardening, helping family and friends. He also enjoyed traveling and had helped build churches in the Ukraine, Mexico, and Losoto South Africa where he helped build a Nazarene Church in memory of his brother Willis Whitling. Norman will always be remembered for his wonderful sense of humor In addition to his wife, he is survived by one daughter: Norma Jean Ferringer of Sarasota, FL; two grandsons: Michael and Mark Ferringer both of Sarasota, FL 4 step children: Patricia (Chris) Switzer, Pamela (Alan) Hartzell both of Seneca, PA; Karl Shirey of Pittsburgh, and Daniel (Kimberley) Shirey of Oil City 9 step grandchildren: Kelli (Aaron) Yost, Daniel Switzer both of Seneca, PA; Zachary (Kara) Hartzell, Andrea (Michael) McCauley both of Oil City; Travis, Ashleigh, and Josiah Hartzell and Alexa and Robert Shirey all of Oil City 7 Step great grandchildren: Noah and Isaac Yost of Seneca; Tytus, Kaylee, and Zayden Hartzell and Jacob and Maria McCauley all of Oil City 3 sisters: Hazel Whitmer of Meadville, PA, Esther Neel of Warren, PA, and JoAnn Boocks of Leesburg, FL one brother: Merle (Rose) Whitling of Oil City, PA 2 sister-in-laws: Evelyn Whitling of Pittsburgh and Mary Jane Whitling of Kennerdell, PA 4 step sisters: Freda Moyer of Oil City, Mary Henderson of Lake City, FL, Susan (Charles) Lineman of Cranberry, and Carol "Kay" (Fred) Gilmore of Lucinda, PA 1 step sister-in-law: Roberta O'Neil of Knox, PA; 1 step brother-in-law: Russell (Nancy) O'Neil of Zephyrhills, FL, and numerous nieces and nephews. In addition to his parents and first wife, he was preceded in death by a daughter Linda, a sister, Helen O'Neil, 3 brothers: Harold, Willis, and Walter Whitling. Visitation will be held on Friday, Oct. 14, from 10 -11am at the Oil City Church of The Nazarene, 601 E 2nd Street, Oil City, PA. A Celebration of Life Services will begin at 11:00 am in the Oil City Church of The Nazarene, with the Rev. William Hopkins, pastor, and the Rev. Rusty Culbertson, pastor of the South Hills Church of the Nazarene, officiating. Burial with military honors will be in the Brandon Cemetery, Cranberry Twp. In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to the Work and Witness fund, c/o Oil City Church of the Nazarene, 601 E. Second St., Oil City, PA 16301. Online condolences can be made at www.hartle-tarboxfuneralhomes.com. Arrangements are under the direction of the Hartle-Tarbox Funeral Homes, Inc., Port Allegany.