Robert A. “Shorty” Whitman

| February 16, 2020

Robert A. “Shorty Whitman, 96, a well-known and well-loved resident of Polk died peacefully Friday, February 14, 2020.

He was born in Utica, July 24, 1923, a beloved son of Raymond and Louise O’Neil Whitman. He was the oldest of three children. His sisters: Anne Heffern Chatley and Jeannette Brundage, are both deceased.

Shorty has a daughter, Linda Staup, and husband, Marty of Oil City. He also has two grandsons: Rob Staup and Evan Staup and wife, Stacie, all of Utica; and two great-grandchildren: Kinley and Shay Staup.

Shorty attended Third Ward School, Franklin High School, and Lakeland Community College.

During his childhood summer vacations, he enjoyed spending time with his relatives, the Johnstons, in Utica on their farm. He also had worked stetting pins at The Court Recreation Bowling Alley in Franklin.

Following his high school graduation in 1941, Shorty began his employment with the former Chicago Pneumatic Tool Company (C.P.T.), where he worked for 27 ½ years from 1941-1969. He met and married the former Ruth Hartle on July 3, 1945. She preceded him in death on April 7, 1977.

In November of 1945, he went into the Army and was stationed in the South Pacific with the 5th Army Air Corp during World War II. Following his honorable discharge from duty, he returned to Franklin and the Chicago Pneumatic Tool Company and began what was to become his lifetime’s favorite past time, champion marksmanship.

Shorty became friends with many of the members of the Tri-County Rifle League, the Re-Arm Sports Center Rifle League, and the Wolf’s Head Oil Company’s Rifle League, where he performed as the league’s highest marksman for more than17 years. One of Shorty’s most memorable moments was in leading the Wolf’s Head Rifle League through its unprecedented eight-time interstate championships by scoring a perfect 250 in each of the competitions.

He remained a keen and active marksman until just months ago, at the Sandycreek Conservancy at Polk, where he shot skeet and trap on Thursdays and Sundays, a place where he had also won his first shotgun trophy as a senior shooter. Shorty was also an active grouse hunter and conservationist, volunteering countless hours on numerous projects related to the preservation of our wildlife, alongside and with the gratitude of The Ruffed Grouse Society.

Shorty had spent many of the fall months of September and October in Michigan, camping and hunting the elusive ruffed grouse with his beloved and personally trained English Setter, Smokey. He custom trained all of his sixteen bird dogs, each of whom held a special place in his heart. Shorty would always proudly share his more than eighty years of shooting and dog training memories and pointers with the young and old alike.

Friends may call Wednesday 3-5 PM in the Timothy E. Hartle Funeral Home, 1328 Elk Street in Franklin. A blessing service will be conducted Wednesday at 5 PM in the funeral home, with Deacon Richard O’Polka, of St. Patrick Church in Franklin, presiding. Immediately following the blessing service, full military burial rites will be accorded by The V.E.T.S. Funeral Honor Guard of Franklin.

Private burial will be beside his wife at St. Patrick Cemetery.

Memorial contributions, if desired, may be made in Shorty’s name to The Venango County Humane Society.

Please visit www.hartlefuneralhome.com for further information and to leave a note of condolence.


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Category: Obituaries