On June 20, 2023, Harold E. Whitlock completed his assignment in this physical world. After a lifetime as a citizen with Jesus, the King, in God’s Kingdom on earth as it is in heaven, Hal departed to join his heavenly Father for eternity.
As he often said, he lived on the right side of history and now will live on the right side of eternity. His prayer was that each of you might be able to say the same. Hal often remarked that he felt like the last man standing. He was the last of his generation in his family. He was the oldest man at his church. There were 16 million members of the armed forces during World War II. He was in the last 320,000 or 2%. Today he is no longer the last good man standing, but a man with a good standing which will last forever.When people ask how he lived so long, he replied, “genes, Jesus and GPS”. Good genes from my ancestors. Jesus, the solid rock upon whom he built his life.And God’s Providential System which he used to Guide, Protect and Sustain his entire life.
Hal was a Hoosier, the son of Earl and Mary Whitlock of Crawfordsville, Indiana. When he returned from the army his parents introduced him to Joyce Gran. He fell in love and was soon married. They worked together as he finished his education at Purdue University. He pursued a career in Chemical Engineering at Dupont for 40 years, rising to the position of Research Manager over five major plastic products.His greatest Joy was in helping young scientists in his group grow to become leaders in the company.
Hal and Joyce shared a wonderful, harmonious marriage for 58 years, until she joined her Father in heaven in 2006. They would sometimes get mad at what the other did, but he could not remember a time when they were truly angry with each other. Amazing. They were devoted parents of Bruce, Carol, Keith, and Nancy. And proud grandparents of Rick, Amy, Matthew, Christopher and Joshua. And later he was the proud great-grandparent of Zophie, Lucas, Zoe, Faith and Joy.
Hal loved God, as Jesus commands, and spent over 70 years in active ministries and church leadership, including over 30 years of retirement. For example, over the last 11 years Hal had a wondrous ministry of hospitality, friendship and personal relationships with many Chinese students at the University of Delaware.
He learned to cook, served many dinners and became famous for his deviled eggs. With his TLC, he soon became grandpa Hal to many special friends. And by 2021 he was also great grandpa Hal to 8 of their Chinese children, including one boy whose English name is Hal. In his friendships, he led many weekly one-to-one Bible studies. In his 90s, Hal would say that he had never been more spiritually alive and joyful. True, he was chronologically 98, but spiritually he remained only 30. He was one-of-a-kind and a kind one to all whom he met.
Hal is predeceased by his parents, his sister Joyce, his daughter Carol, and his wife Joyce. He is survived by his son Bruce, his son Keith and wife Debbie, his daughter Nancy, plus his grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
All are welcome for visitation on Friday July 7, from 10:30-11am followed by a celebration of Hal’s life at 11am at Good News Church, 957 Old Lancaster Pike, Hockessin, DE 19707. Burial will be held privately. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Good News Church.
