Douglas W. Whitman, 47, passed away on March 27, 2011 in the home of his aunt, Barbara Maggard, who had been caring for him through his final stage of a long, intermittent battle with colon cancer.
Doug was born on November 26, 1963. He graduated from Willard High School in 1982. Doug attended SMSU and the University of Missouri-Rolla School of Mines where he graduated in 1989 with a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Exploration Geophysics.
After college he was employed with Amoco Production Co. in Houston, Texas, from 1989-1996, as the principle staff exploration geophysicist with seismic design in Gabon, West Africa, successfully completing a large 3D seismic program. In 1996-1999 he was a research geophysicist at Tulsa Research Center, specializing in 3D visualization and interpretative software environments. In 2008 he began work for Chaparral Energy, LLC, in Oklahoma City, as a geophysicist until the time of his death. With this company he discovered a large natural gas site off the coast of Texas. Doug also owned and managed retail and service ventures.
As an adventurer and scientist, Doug’s passion has always been the road less travelled and the stone unturned. With a great sense of humor and an eclectic interest combined with a creative nature and zest for life, he was an avid, lifelong outdoorsman, naturalist and environmentalist with the added craziness of a tornado spotter and storm chaser.
Following cremation a memorial service will be held on Saturday, April 9, 2011 at 1 p.m., in Greenlawn Funeral Home North.
Doug was preceded in death by his parents, Terry W. Whitman and Sondra Dennison Whitman and his grandparents, Homer and Virginia Whitman and Claude and Nelda Dennison. He will be greatly missed by a large extended family and a larger community of associates and friends, especially friends, Chuck and Carol Bitting and Gisela Smith and his dog companions, Bootsy and Celine.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in Doug’s name to the American Cancer Society ‘s Relay For Life. Donations can be sent to the funeral home at 3506 N. National Blvd, Springfield, MO 65803.