Obituaries

Funeral services for Virginia Whitten Draper, 91, will be conducted on Tuesday, Dec 24, at 11:00 AM at the First Assembly of God Church, 2600 HWY 82 East, Whitesboro, with Reverend Allen Phillips officiating. Interment will follow at the Whitesboro Oakwood Cemetery. A reception will be held at the church after graveside services. Viewing will be from 10AM to 8PM on Monday Dec 23 and family visitation will be from 6-8PM at the First Assembly of God Church. All service arrangements are under the direction of Dannel Funeral Home, Sherman, Texas. Virginia Whitten Draper passed away in at the North Texas Medical Center, Gainesville, Texas December 17, 2013. She was a lifelong resident of Whitesboro, Texas, and most recently the Renaissance Care Center of Gainesville, Texas. Although living at the Renaissance Care Center in Gainesville for the last several years, she retained her home in Whitesboro until her death and often spent time watching, from her favorite chair, birds at her many bird feeders while still enjoying the comfort of her home that she lived in for 40-plus years. Her two surviving sons kept her home in move in and ready use condition so she could visit and still enjoy her home. Virginia thoroughly loved her home that she and her deceased husband, Lee T. Draper built next to her parent’s home in 1969. Church has always been the center of her life, and she attended the Assembly of God Church at its various locations in Whitesboro for more than 75 years. Her mother, Gertrude Whitten, founded the original church in the early 40’s, and the Whitten family nurtured the church and watched it grow into the church that now stands on HWY 82 East. Mrs. Draper was a talented vocalist and for many years appeared in local gospel musical productions. She sang with her youngest sister, Janie Whitten, as part of a quartet on a radio program broadcast from Sherman, Texas in the early fifties. Virginia, noted for her singing of “In the Garden”, was often requested by audiences both in radio and live performances to sing this song. The quartet made a demo record but she did not pursue a professional singing career. Rather, she focused on being a mother and avid supporter of her church. God, Church and Family always were first priorities in her life. Virginia was employed in many vocations over the years. During her early adulthood she was a waitress at cafes and restaurants in the Whitesboro area; employed by the Linda Jo Shoe Factory in Gainesville, Ben Franklin Store in Whitesboro, Whitesboro Manufacturing Company, as well as office manager and practical nurse for Dr. Fred Banfield. Virginia was predeceased by her husband Lee Draper, youngest son Jimmie Tom Fowler, San Diego, California, her parents Gertrude and Tom Whitten, Whitesboro, Sisters Tommie Jo Gates, Temple, Texas, and Janie Whitten, Sherman, Texas, Brothers Tom Whitten, Texarkana, Texas and David Whitten, Whitesboro. She is survived by her two sons Don Fowler and wife Diane of New Braunfels, Texas and Steve Fowler and wife Teena of Lincoln, California, nephew Mike Whitten of Whitesboro, five granddaughters, two grandsons, five great-grandsons, two great-granddaughters, many nieces and nephews and long time friend, Shirley Hock of Whitesboro, and lifelong friends Pamp Neely of Merced, California, and Pauline Beck of Dallas, Texas. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that memorial donations may be made in her name to the First Assembly of God Church, 2600 HWY 82 East, Whitesboro, Texas 76272.