03/23/2016
Lieutenant General Orren Ray “Cotton” Whiddon passed peacefully into the arms of the Lord, March 20, 2016, surrounded by family and friends after fighting the good fight. He was born March 10, 1935 to the late Cynthia Betty Cockrell and Orren Cox Whiddon in Joaquin, TX as a fifth generation Texan.
General Whiddon graduated from Stephen F. Austin University in 1955, was drafted into the US Army as a Buck Private and upon completion of OCS in 1956, he was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant, Field Artillery. He holds a Master’s in Management from USC. His military education includes Field Artillery Basic and Advanced Courses, Army Command and Gen. Staff College and Naval War College.
General Whiddon served two tours in Vietnam, including G2, 101st Airborne and in a variety of career building assignments, including Ft. Sill, OK; Vicenza, Italy; Ft. Leavenworth, KS; The Pentagon (numerous); Giessen, Germany (twice); SHAPE, Mons, Belgium; Ft. Polk, LA; and Ft. Eustis, VA. Other key assignments include AFCENT, The Netherlands; and Commanding Gen., 8th ID, Bad Krueznach, Germany. Gen. Whiddon retired in 1990 as Commanding Gen., Second United States Army, Ft. Gillem, GA.
Awards and decorations Gen. Whiddon received include the Distinguished Service Medal (2 Oak Leaf Clusters), Defense Superior Service Medal (1 Oak Leaf Cluster), Legion of Merit (3 Oak Leaf Clusters), Bronze Star Medal (two Oak Leaf Clusters), Meritorious Service Medal (4 Oak Leaf Clusters), Air Medal (5 Oak Leaf Clusters), Army Commendation Medal (2 Oak Leaf Clusters), Army Good Conduct Medal (1 Oak Leaf Cluster), National Defense Service Medal (1 Oak Leaf Cluster), Vietnam Service Medal (3 Oak Leaf Clusters), Army Service Ribbon (1 Oak Leaf Cluster) and Overseas Service Ribbon (Oak Leaf Clusters). Gen Whiddon is authorized to wear the Combat Infantry Badge, Parachutist Badge, Joint Chiefs of Staff ID Badge, and Army Gen. Staff ID Badge.
General Whiddon was inducted into Stephen F. Austin University’s Alumni Hall of Fame in 1988, awarded the Angelina Rotary Club’s Paul Harris Fellow Award and “Service Above Self” Award in 2005 and the Angelina Award in 2014. He was a longtime supporter of the SFA’s ROTC program. The Howitzer fired at SFA home games, Ol’ Cotton, is named in his honor.
After retiring in 1990, Cotton and the love of his life, Harriot McKinney Whiddon, began the second adventure of their lives in Lufkin, Texas. His leadership and ability to inspire others led to his work with and development of the PineCrest Retirement Community and Salvation Army Adult Day Care Center. His community work included the Lufkin Planning and Zoning Board, St. Cyprian’s Episcopal School Board President, Methodist Retirement Communities Board, Methodist Retirement Trust Board, and Senior Warden for St. Cyprian’s Episcopal Church. Cotton loved Lufkin, and Lufkin loved him.
He was preceded in death by his beloved parents, Cynthia Betty (Cockrell) and Orren Cox Whiddon, and brother, Richard Abner Whiddon. He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Harriot McKinney Whiddon; son, Orren Prentice Whiddon of Artemis, PA; daughters, Laura Whiddon Shortell and husband, Joe Ross Stutts of Dallas, TX; Barbara Whiddon Chandler and husband, James B. Chandler of Allen, TX; four grandchildren, Orren A. Whiddon, Pittsburgh, PA; Joseph H. Shortell III, Dallas, TX; Catharine T. Whiddon, Artimus, PA; Skylar J. Chandler, Allen, TX; sister, Susan K. Whiddon, Joaquin, TX; sisters-in-law, Susan P. McKinney of Nacogdoches, TX and Jean T. Whiddon of Hideaway, TX; and numerous nieces and nephews.
We’d like to thank “Cotton’s Angels”, Norma, Evia, Bonnie, Brenda, Crystal and Ruth; LTC Francis Jackson; the staff and caregivers at Hospice in the Pines; Memorial Home Health; and all the doctors who cared for him, especially Dr. Kyle Krohn.
Funeral services are scheduled for 10:00 a.m., Saturday, March 26, 2016 at St. Cyprian’s Episcopal Church, Lufkin and burial with full military honors at 3:00 p.m. at The Joaquin Cemetery, Joaquin, Texas.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Hospice in the Pines, 1504 W. Frank Avenue, Lufkin, TX 75904 or The Salvation Army Adult Day Care Center, 412 S. 3rd St., Lufkin, TX 75901 or to the charity of your choice.
Condolences may be offered at www.gipsonfuneralhome.com
Services have been placed in the trust of Gipson Funeral Home.
