Dennis Whitten (63) of rural Altamont

Dennis S. Whitten, 63, of Altamont, died at 1:00 p.m. Friday, March 25, 2016 at his home.

Funeral Services will be held at 2:00 p.m. Saturday, April 2 at the First Baptist Church, Altamont with Rev. Dr. Lowell Donnelley officiating. Burial will follow at Oakridge Cemetery, Effingham. Visitation will be from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. Friday at the Church. Memorials may be made to the First Baptist Church or the donor’s choice. Gieseking Funeral Home, Altamont is assisting the family with arrangements.

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 Dennis Steven Whitten was born on Thursday, October 23, 1952 in Washington, DC, to Billy D. and Betty J. (Buckner) Whitten. He married Vickie Turner Slovick on November 6, 1989 in Effingham. He was a faithful member and deacon of the First Baptist Church, Altamont. He was retired from the U.S. Postal Service and served most recently as Postmaster at the Effingham Post Office. He was also a member of the NARFE, Gideons International, NRA, and studied at the Moody Bible Institute. Dennis was an avid hiker and had recently hiked the southern half of the Appalachian Trail covering approximately 1000 miles.

He is survived by his wife, Vickie of Altamont; sons, Justin Whitten and his wife Tammy of Cocoa, Florida and Brandon Whitten of Plainfield; daughters, Valerie Angel and her husband Juan of Mattoon and Melissa Whitten Collins of Effingham; brothers, Kevin Whitten and his wife Donna of Altamont and Shawn Whitten and his wife Theresa of Smyrna, Tennessee; sister, Sheila Northrop of Altamont; 7 grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, daughter, Amanda Clarissa Whitten,  and nephew, Zach Whitten.