Thomas E. Whittle, 69, a prominent citizen of Montpelier, died at the home of his daughter, Ruth Kay Anderson, May 18. He was born August 21, 1906, in Ammon, Idaho to Thomas Almon and Lydia Rolfe Whittle. He attended Rigby schools through the eighth grade. Whittle was employed in road and building construction during his younger years, but he soon turned to the art of cooking as a profession. He was employed in a restaurant in Ashton when he met his wife, Fern Christofferson. They married January 11, 1926 in Rigby.

After residing in Rigby for a number of years, employed by Price and McKee, they moved to Preston, back to Rigby and then to Montpelier in 1928, still employed for McKee until 1941. E.C. Jensen and Thomas Whittle formed a partnership in the Burgoyne Café until the spring of 1961, when Mr. and Mrs. Whittle purchased Jensen's share. Health forced Whittle to retire in 1970, after 43 years in this business. Whittle was an excellent photographer, and he had received several honors in national photography magazines through the years.

Some years ago, he studied the art of taxidermy and became quite good. He also tailored many of his own clothes and helped with the mending.
He had built several trains, to the joy of his grandchildren, and was an avid lover of guns and gun making. He carved and finished many gun stocks.
He was preceded in death by his wife on March 21, 1976, his parents, and two brothers.

Survivors' include a daughter, Mrs. Waldo (Ruth Kay) Anderson, Montpelier; five granddaughters and two great-grandchildren; one brother, Charles Whittle, Turlock, Calif.; four sisters, Lois Neal, Peoa, Utah; Elgy Kidd and Ellen Burt, both of Stockton, Calif.; and Nell Brockman, Turlock, Calif.

Burial was in the Montpelier City Cemetery.

 

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