Arvin "Eddie" Whitt

We cannot be victorious in all the battles we face. It is those that we fought hard and long but still manage to lose that are the hardest to accept. Arvin “Eddie” Whitt lost his battle to stay here on Earth on May 28th, 2016. He was born November 7, 1939 in Berwind, West Virginia to Charles B. and Emma Louise Brinkley Hankins Whitt. He was the last of the Hankins-Whitt children: Claude Jr., Douglas, Bobby Joe, Ted, and 1st Sergeant US Army, Retired James T. Hankins, Margaret Ruth, Maxine, Brenda Sue, and Mary Ann Montgomery. He is survived by his wife of 52 years, Loretta Jean, adored daughters Laura Louise and Lisa Jean Whitt, his beloved sister-in-law, Audrey Jean Hankins of El Paso, Texas, as well as his best friend since age 5, Paul Patterson of Tazewell, Virginia. He has many cousins who he loved going back to West By God Virginia and Virginia to visit. He was a member of the Church of God in Vallscreek, West Virginia. He is survived by many nieces, nephews, great nieces and nephews, and great-great nieces and nephews. He arrived in Sacramento, California on November 14, 1960 from Hartwell, West Virginia and was stationed at McClellan AFB. He served a total of eight years military in the US Army and US Air Force and continued as a civil servant at McClellan AFB until May 20, 1998 where he served for a total of 40 years, 1 month, 1 week, and 1 day until retirement. He remained active in his community and was a member of the North Highlands/Foothill Farms Community Planning Advisory Council, North Highlands Vision Task Force, North Highlands Chamber of Commerce Lunch Bunch, Watt Avenue Merchants Association, American Legion Post 832, Tazewell County Virginia Moose Lodge 198, Rio Linda Moose Lodge 2060, Rio Linda Masonic Lodge 768 Free and Accepted Masons, Hall of Fame Member Western Swing Society, Past President of the Country Music Club – Northern California, California County Music Hall of Fame and the California State Old Time Fiddlers Association – District 5, Sacramento. He never met a stranger because he was always engaged in his community and because of his love of life and people. He, in turn, was loved and liked by so many, and there will never be another one like him. His absence leaves a void that can never be filled. Funeral services were held Monday, June 6, 2016 at 0930 hours at Sacramento Valley National Cemetery 5810 Midway Road, Dixon, California 95620. A celebration of his life took place afterward at Rio Linda Moose Lodge, 6003 Rio Linda Boulevard, Rio Linda, California. Per his wishes, his cremains were interred in the Hartwell Cemetery at Hartwell, West Virginia on October 22, 2018. Hurst-Scott Funeral Home of Richlands, Virginia is in charge of arrangements and those wishing to express sympathy may do so online at www.hurstscottfuneralhomes.com.

Arvin "Eddie" Whitt

November 7, 1939 - May 28, 2016