Leonard Whitney

NAME: Leonard Whitney AGE: 94 RESIDENT OF: Exeter DATE OF DEATH: October 24, 2015 OCCUPATION: Grocery Store Owner PLACE OF DEATH: Exeter Leonard Whitney February 20, 1921 – October 24, 2015 Leonard Walter Whitney was born February 20, 1921 to Schuyler and Carrie Whitney, in Yakima, Washington. At the age of 6 months he moved to Exeter, Ca. with his parents, brothers Ernest and Cliff and sister Ethel. Leonard grew up in Exeter, going to school and graduating from Exeter High School. Leonard’s father died when he was a young boy and Leonard worked several jobs to help support his family, including the local Safeway store for mgr. JL Nickel. Leonard bought his first grocery store in Tulare when he was eighteen. He sold it several years later to join the Army Air Corps during World War II. He was a waist gunner on a B-17, flying 32 missions over Germany and France, including D-Day. After the war he returned to Exeter and ran into JL Nickel, who was building a store in Woodlake. Leonard went to work for him, then became a partner in what became Nickel’s Payless Stores. He married Joyline King in 1945, settled in Woodlake and had two sons, Michael and Greg. He was very involved in the community of Woodlake and developed the first shopping center in town. He was a city councilman, volunteer fireman and a fire commissioner. He was a charter member of the Woodlake Lions Club, its first president and the first rodeo chairman of the Woodlake Lions Rodeo. He loved sharing his ranch and his horses with everyone, especially children, hosting Junior rodeos and letting people learn to ride. He also loved a celebration and many people, charities and organizations benefited from his hospitality at the “Whitney Barn”. Over the years his business grew to include not only the Nickel’s Payless Stores, but Best Buy Market in Visalia, Food King Markets in Hanford, Lemoore and Parlier, and Foodland in Porterville. In 1977 he married Barbara Shirk, and they were together until her death in 2008. His next venture was into a new type of operation with the Food 4 Less stores he opened in Visalia, Hanford, Fresno, Clovis and Bakersfield. In 2001 he decided to attend his horses and ranch full time and left the grocery business, but could not stay away and opened B n L Quality Meats in 2013, which he owned and still participated in until his death. His word was his bond. His honesty and integrity were of utmost importance to him. His passion was his work in the grocery industry and his animals, especially his dogs. He helped many people in a lot of ways and his presence will be missed in business, in the horse community and among the large group of friends that he touched over the years. He was preceded in death by his mother, father, two brothers, a sister, son Michael and his wife Barbara. He is survived by his son, Greg (Karen), stepsons Eric Shirk, Jeff Shirk, and Greg Shirk, 11 grandchildren, 7 great grandchildren and many nieces and nephews. A funeral service will be held on Monday, November 2, 2015 at 9:00 a.m. at First Assembly Church in Visalia, CA. Following the service burial will take place at Exeter District Cemetery. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to: Central Valley Rescue Railroad, (a non- profit, no kill, dog rescue facility) PO box 44, Lindsay, Ca, 93247 A memorial tribute may be offered by logging onto www.salseranddillard.com

Leonard Whitney

February 20, 1921 - October 24, 2015