Michael Kent Whitmore

Michael was born on October 10th, 1936, in Des Moines, Iowa to parents Glenn and Margaret Whitmore. Michael was two months older than his best friend, Dolores Phillips, whom he always joked that he was wiser than she was because he was older. He passed away at the age of 88 on December 21st, 2024. He is survived by his best friend, Dolores Phillips, her daughter, Wendy, who was his caregiver and became like a daughter to him, Wendy’s daughter, Tara, who became like a granddaughter to him, Ginger’s son, Victor, who was like a son to him, and numerous golfing buddies. 

Michael’s family moved to San Bernardino, Ca when he was about 7 and he lived next door to sisters, Ginger Williams (Petty) and Dolores Phillips (Petty). As an only child, the sisters became not only his best friends, but more like siblings. Michael was always considered a member of the Petty family and spent years golfing with Ginger’s husband, Chad, and her sons Victor and Danny. 

Michael served in the Marines for four years during the Korean War. He was an MP, military police, serving two years in northern California and 2 years in the Philippines. He received commendations for being a superb marine and discharged with the rank of sergeant. 

After being discharged, Michael became a liquor salesman to large companies across the country. He was vice president and managed a number of other salesmen. He enjoyed golfing for the past 60 years with a number of his coworkers whom he became close friends with, as well as various celebrities in the 60s and 70s. He has pictures to prove it! His golfing friends would call and check in on him with a 15- 20 second conversation. It was funny, but very comforting. 

Michael was a wonderful friend to Ginger Williams (Petty) after the passing of her husband as she struggled with Alzheimer’s. In addition, for the past 10 years after the passing of Dolores’ husband, Michael would visit Dolores every Tuesday at 1pm for their standing appointment to watch golf on TV. He would get a water and an ice cream, and sit on the couch for the next couple of hours. Dolores never liked golf when her husband, Floyd tried to explain it, but Michael had the magic touch and she became hooked! 

As time progressed, Michael developed Parkinson’s and dementia. He began relying on Dolores’ daughter, Wendy, to care for him for the last 3 years of his life. He could be the crankiest, and the sweetest all at once. She called him her “Sweet Cranky Michael.” He loved Wendy to take him to Denny’s. He would always get a crispy chicken sandwich and strawberry lemonade. 

Michael also became close to Wendy’s daughter, Tara. He called her his Hawaiian girlfriend after a prank on Dolores and Wendy. The story goes that one day he put on a Hawaiian hat and he and Tara both wore Hawaiian lays, FaceTiming Wendy and Dolores while visiting Dolores’ daughter, Meghan in Georgia. They both pretended they were in Hawaii and talked about their adventures there. He talked about their “vacation” for the next 2 years and got the biggest kick out of that. 

Michael had a wicked sense of humor and would smile his mischievous smile, joking that he had to get home to Zsa Zsa (Gabor) and Marilyn (Monroe) or that they kept him up all night wrestling. 

Michael was a Christian and as he neared Heaven, Wendy told him that Jesus was coming to get him, and that Ginger, Chad, and Danny were there waiting to play golf. With his eyes closed, laying in the bed, he tried to get up because he wanted to see them so bad! 

Michael’s funeral will be at Riverside National Cemetery on February 14, 2025 at 1 PM.