February 26, 1943 – December 7, 2025
Ray Whitney, 82, of Texarkana, Texas, passed away peacefully on Sunday, December 7, 2025. Ray was born on February 26, 1943, in Silsbee, Texas, to Herbert Jackson Whitney II and Ethel Mae Yount. He grew up in Silsbee and later made Texarkana, Texas his home. His work took him across the globe—three times around the world—creating a lifetime of adventure and memories. After graduating from Silsbee High School, he attended Lamar University in Beaumont, Texas, and then attended and graduated Magcobar Mud School. Ray dedicated his career to M-I Drilling Fluids as an International Drilling Fluids Engineer. Before his engineering career, he honorably served his country as a United States Marine and later worked as a railroad switchman and conductor. After the Persian Gulf War, he aided teams battling the Kuwaiti oil well fires in 1991, a service that he was proud to be involved in. He was a member of the Marine Corps League and a proud veteran of the Marine Corps. Ray’s love for life extended far beyond his work. He was a sailor who participated in the Texas 200 sailing event three times. A licensed pilot, he loved flying and devoted many hours to rebuilding airplanes. His talents were equally remarkable—he played guitar and restored violins with skill and passion. Ray was married to Barbara Wilson-Whitney from October 29, 2005, to the present, and previously to Barbara Hough Gulley, the mother of his children. He was preceded in death by his son Herbert “Bert” Jackson Whitney II, half-brother Ronnie Copellar, and half-sister Jennette Cornwell. Left to cherish his memory are his wife Barbara Wilson-Whitney; children Dell Weston Whitney and Janie Elizabeth DeCesare; and grandchildren Justin Whitney, Jonah Boyd, Shane Whitney, and Sadie Boyd. In lieu of flowers, the family prefers memorial donations to be made to the Wounded Warrior Project. Funeral services will be held at Texarkana Funeral Home – Texas on Saturday, December 13, 2025, at 3:00 PM, with Greg Morgan officiating. A visitation will be held one hour before the service.
Arrangements are under the direction of Texarkana Funeral Home.
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