Frank Whitton

August 23, 1934 - October 21, 2020

CARLSBAD — Frank Whitton, loving husband, devoted family man and respected friend passed away peacefully October 21, 2020. At 86, Frank led a long, successful, beautiful life with his wife Joanna by his side.

In 2015, Frank was honored as Carlsbad’s Citizen of the Year, having served on both the Traffic and Planning Commissions and Juvenile Justice Panel and founded the Carlsbad Fire Department Foundation, which raises money for equipment and scholarships for firefighters and their families.

Born and raised in West Chicago, IL, Frank was commissioned into the Marine Corps after graduating from the University of Notre Dame in 1956. His 23-year military career had many accomplishments, highlighted by his service in Vietnam, and his service as the Deputy officer in charge of the (Indo-chinese) Refugee Coordination Center, Marine Corps Base, Camp Pendleton, soon after the fall of Saigon in 1975. He also served as aide to the late Maj. Gen. Raymond L. Murray at Camp Pendleton. He retired as a Lt. Colonel.

Following, Frank was Associate Dean for San Diego Community College District in charge of two schools at the Naval Training Center and owned his own government-contracting company before retiring.

A select few of his many other accomplishments include serving as a director on the Notre Dame National Alumni Board, the Notre Dame National Senior Alumni Board, and the President of the Alumni Club of San Diego County. He also served on the board of the Army and Navy Academy in Carlsbad and chairman of the Bertelson Scholarship Committee for 25 years. Additionally, Frank was one of the founding directors of the Elite Service Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business Network.

Frank’s family, wife

Joanna, son, Michael Whitton, daughters, Denise Whitton, Christy Schmitt, and Kathleen Blom-lowery, their spouses, Janelle Whitton, Brian Schmitt and Shawn Lowery, and his grandchildren, Garrett, Colette and Gage Whitton, Kyle and Erin Schmitt, and Carter Blom, will share cherished memories and celebrate his accomplishments at a Mass at St. Elizabeth Seton Catholic Church, where he served as a Eucharistic Minister and two terms as Grand Knight of the Knights of Columbus. Due to COVID, there will be a private funeral Mass.

The family asks that, in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the Carlsbad Fire Department Foundation or the Lt. Col. Frank H. Whitton Law Fellowship at Notre Dame.