Wallace Roy Whitney, 85, an Osawatomie native, died Friday, March 5, 2004, at his home in Eagle Rock, Mo., after a short illness.

The son of Wallace Jennings Demarest and Ethel Faye Cook Whitney, he was born March 24, 1918, in Osawatomie. He was a 1936 graduate of Osawatomie High School.

Wally, as he was known by his family and friends, was a veteran of World War II. He served as a flight instructor in the U.S. Navy Air Force during the war.

He was a past commander of Irwin-Easley Post No. 118 of the American Legion in Cassville, Mo., and a past president of the Golden Harvest Club, also of Cassville.

Mr. Whitney attended the First Baptist Church in Cassville.

Those preceding him in death were his first wife, Lucyle Whitney, a son, Alan Whitney, three brothers, James, Sewell and Everett, and two sisters, Margaret Kester and Trissie Diediker.

Survivors include his wife, Meg Whitney; three children, Stephen Whitney of Pembroke Pine, Fla., and Brian Whitney and Diane Whitney, both of Cassville; three stepsons, Ed Larson of Washburn, Mo., and Harold Larson and John Larson, both of Minneapolis, Minn.; two sisters, Illa Diediker of Osawatomie and Rosalie Whitney of Mesa, Ariz.; and many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Memorial services were Tuesday at the church.