Joe Kenneth Whitt was born August 17, 1931 near Ardmore in the Bethel community of Limestone County, Alabama. He was the second son of Odie Berry Whitt and Hazel Alberta Buckner Whitt.
Joe's parents were farmers (cotton and later dairy) and as a young child, he was taught how to work hard and how to farm. He told stories of picking cotton with his brother and sisters as a boy, and even having to pick up rocks around the farm when all the other work was finished.
Joe went to school at Ardmore and was known as a quiet person, but when he talked, he was very funny - always making the other students laugh and the teachers let him get away with it. When he was in the 11th grade and 17 years old, he decided he wanted to try something other than farming, so he ran away and joined the Army.
While in the Army, Joe was ordered to fight in the Korean War and stayed in that country until 1952 when he was injured. One night, he was sleeping in a furrow in a field and a truck ran over him. After his recovery, he was sent home and stationed at Camp Rucker, Alabama (now Fort Rucker).
While he was home on leave 1952, he met the new preacher's daughter at Piney Grove Baptist Church, Sarah Willingham. His sister, Jane, played matchmaker and fixed them up. He was discharged from the Army in 1953 and in December of that year, Joe and Sarah became engaged. They married in December 1953 and bought a farm on Pulaski Pike in Madison County, Alabama. Joe farmed with his father and went to school in Athens, Alabama, at night to complete his education. His wife worked at Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville. In 1956, Joe started working as a machinist at Redstone Arsenal and continued to farm. In 1968, he left Civil Service to take over "Whitt's Dairy" farm from his father. Whitt's Dairy was (and still is) located on Pinedale Road between Limestone Creek and Old Schoolhouse Road. Joe's first love was farming. He loved being able to work outdoors and to be his own boss. It was often said he could grow the best corn crop in the area. His son, Jamie, farmed with him and they won many dairy awards from the local Dairyman's Association. Because of health reasons, he retired from farming at the age of 61 in 1992. He turned the management of the farm over to Jamie but still helped out until his death July 14, 1994.
Joe was a good neighbor and was generous to those in need. He loved children and elderly people and went out of his way to pay them attention. He provided well for his children and dearly loved his grandchildren. Joe is buried beside his parents in Gatlin Cemetery on Stateline Road in Ardmore.
Joe and Sarah had three children: Joe Kenneth, Jr. (Jodie) born 7 September 1959;Jamie Steven born 11 Apr 1962; and Jewell Leigh (Julie) born 21 July 1968. At the time of his death they had six grandchildren - J. K., Dylan, Lacey, Nicole, Kaylee Whitt. Since that time, there have been two more grandchildren born Sarah Marie and John Michael Schumaker.
Joe's parents were farmers (cotton and later dairy) and as a young child, he was taught how to work hard and how to farm. He told stories of picking cotton with his brother and sisters as a boy, and even having to pick up rocks around the farm when all the other work was finished.
Joe went to school at Ardmore and was known as a quiet person, but when he talked, he was very funny - always making the other students laugh and the teachers let him get away with it. When he was in the 11th grade and 17 years old, he decided he wanted to try something other than farming, so he ran away and joined the Army.
While in the Army, Joe was ordered to fight in the Korean War and stayed in that country until 1952 when he was injured. One night, he was sleeping in a furrow in a field and a truck ran over him. After his recovery, he was sent home and stationed at Camp Rucker, Alabama (now Fort Rucker).
While he was home on leave 1952, he met the new preacher's daughter at Piney Grove Baptist Church, Sarah Willingham. His sister, Jane, played matchmaker and fixed them up. He was discharged from the Army in 1953 and in December of that year, Joe and Sarah became engaged. They married in December 1953 and bought a farm on Pulaski Pike in Madison County, Alabama. Joe farmed with his father and went to school in Athens, Alabama, at night to complete his education. His wife worked at Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville. In 1956, Joe started working as a machinist at Redstone Arsenal and continued to farm. In 1968, he left Civil Service to take over "Whitt's Dairy" farm from his father. Whitt's Dairy was (and still is) located on Pinedale Road between Limestone Creek and Old Schoolhouse Road. Joe's first love was farming. He loved being able to work outdoors and to be his own boss. It was often said he could grow the best corn crop in the area. His son, Jamie, farmed with him and they won many dairy awards from the local Dairyman's Association. Because of health reasons, he retired from farming at the age of 61 in 1992. He turned the management of the farm over to Jamie but still helped out until his death July 14, 1994.
Joe was a good neighbor and was generous to those in need. He loved children and elderly people and went out of his way to pay them attention. He provided well for his children and dearly loved his grandchildren. Joe is buried beside his parents in Gatlin Cemetery on Stateline Road in Ardmore.
Joe and Sarah had three children: Joe Kenneth, Jr. (Jodie) born 7 September 1959;Jamie Steven born 11 Apr 1962; and Jewell Leigh (Julie) born 21 July 1968. At the time of his death they had six grandchildren - J. K., Dylan, Lacey, Nicole, Kaylee Whitt. Since that time, there have been two more grandchildren born Sarah Marie and John Michael Schumaker.
Joe Kenneth Whitt was born August 17, 1931 near Ardmore in the Bethel community of Limestone County, Alabama. He was the second son of Odie Berry Whitt and Hazel Alberta Buckner Whitt.
Joe's parents were farmers (cotton and later dairy) and as a young child, he was taught how to work hard and how to farm. He told stories of picking cotton with his brother and sisters as a boy, and even having to pick up rocks around the farm when all the other work was finished.
Joe went to school at Ardmore and was known as a quiet person, but when he talked, he was very funny - always making the other students laugh and the teachers let him get away with it. When he was in the 11th grade and 17 years old, he decided he wanted to try something other than farming, so he ran away and joined the Army.
While in the Army, Joe was ordered to fight in the Korean War and stayed in that country until 1952 when he was injured. One night, he was sleeping in a furrow in a field and a truck ran over him. After his recovery, he was sent home and stationed at Camp Rucker, Alabama (now Fort Rucker).
While he was home on leave 1952, he met the new preacher's daughter at Piney Grove Baptist Church, Sarah Willingham. His sister, Jane, played matchmaker and fixed them up. He was discharged from the Army in 1953 and in December of that year, Joe and Sarah became engaged. They married in December 1953 and bought a farm on Pulaski Pike in Madison County, Alabama. Joe farmed with his father and went to school in Athens, Alabama, at night to complete his education. His wife worked at Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville. In 1956, Joe started working as a machinist at Redstone Arsenal and continued to farm. In 1968, he left Civil Service to take over "Whitt's Dairy" farm from his father. Whitt's Dairy was (and still is) located on Pinedale Road between Limestone Creek and Old Schoolhouse Road. Joe's first love was farming. He loved being able to work outdoors and to be his own boss. It was often said he could grow the best corn crop in the area. His son, Jamie, farmed with him and they won many dairy awards from the local Dairyman's Association. Because of health reasons, he retired from farming at the age of 61 in 1992. He turned the management of the farm over to Jamie but still helped out until his death July 14, 1994.
Joe was a good neighbor and was generous to those in need. He loved children and elderly people and went out of his way to pay them attention. He provided well for his children and dearly loved his grandchildren. Joe is buried beside his parents in Gatlin Cemetery on Stateline Road in Ardmore.
Joe and Sarah had three children: Joe Kenneth, Jr. (Jodie) born 7 September 1959;Jamie Steven born 11 Apr 1962; and Jewell Leigh (Julie) born 21 July 1968. At the time of his death they had six grandchildren - J. K., Dylan, Lacey, Nicole, Kaylee Whitt. Since that time, there have been two more grandchildren born Sarah Marie and John Michael Schumaker.
Joe's parents were farmers (cotton and later dairy) and as a young child, he was taught how to work hard and how to farm. He told stories of picking cotton with his brother and sisters as a boy, and even having to pick up rocks around the farm when all the other work was finished.
Joe went to school at Ardmore and was known as a quiet person, but when he talked, he was very funny - always making the other students laugh and the teachers let him get away with it. When he was in the 11th grade and 17 years old, he decided he wanted to try something other than farming, so he ran away and joined the Army.
While in the Army, Joe was ordered to fight in the Korean War and stayed in that country until 1952 when he was injured. One night, he was sleeping in a furrow in a field and a truck ran over him. After his recovery, he was sent home and stationed at Camp Rucker, Alabama (now Fort Rucker).
While he was home on leave 1952, he met the new preacher's daughter at Piney Grove Baptist Church, Sarah Willingham. His sister, Jane, played matchmaker and fixed them up. He was discharged from the Army in 1953 and in December of that year, Joe and Sarah became engaged. They married in December 1953 and bought a farm on Pulaski Pike in Madison County, Alabama. Joe farmed with his father and went to school in Athens, Alabama, at night to complete his education. His wife worked at Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville. In 1956, Joe started working as a machinist at Redstone Arsenal and continued to farm. In 1968, he left Civil Service to take over "Whitt's Dairy" farm from his father. Whitt's Dairy was (and still is) located on Pinedale Road between Limestone Creek and Old Schoolhouse Road. Joe's first love was farming. He loved being able to work outdoors and to be his own boss. It was often said he could grow the best corn crop in the area. His son, Jamie, farmed with him and they won many dairy awards from the local Dairyman's Association. Because of health reasons, he retired from farming at the age of 61 in 1992. He turned the management of the farm over to Jamie but still helped out until his death July 14, 1994.
Joe was a good neighbor and was generous to those in need. He loved children and elderly people and went out of his way to pay them attention. He provided well for his children and dearly loved his grandchildren. Joe is buried beside his parents in Gatlin Cemetery on Stateline Road in Ardmore.
Joe and Sarah had three children: Joe Kenneth, Jr. (Jodie) born 7 September 1959;Jamie Steven born 11 Apr 1962; and Jewell Leigh (Julie) born 21 July 1968. At the time of his death they had six grandchildren - J. K., Dylan, Lacey, Nicole, Kaylee Whitt. Since that time, there have been two more grandchildren born Sarah Marie and John Michael Schumaker.
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