Martin Truman Whited

Cayuga, Ind. - Martin Truman Whited, 92 of Cayuga, Indiana died at 8:41 a.m. CST Thursday, December 10, 2020 at Carle Hospital in Urbana, Illinois.

He was born September 8, 1928 at Rochelle, Illinois.

He married Helen Jo Thompson of Cayuga, Indiana on March 9, 1957. They were together for 63 years. Martin spent his boyhood at Streator, Illinois. In 1946 he graduated from Streator Township High School. He was in the U.S. Army from 1946 to 1948, where he was an infantry-man and later, a member of General MacArthur's Headquarters Band, Tokyo, Japan. In 1949 he moved with his family to Champaign, Illinois. A graduate of the University of Illinois, with majors in music and history, he later earned a Masters Degree in School Administration.

Martin held Illinois teaching positions at Catlin High School, Palmyra High School, Westville High School and Franklin Junior High School. He was principal at Potomac High School from 1972 to 1979. Through the years, Martin enjoyed visiting with his former students.

After retiring from the field of education, he and Helen Jo, also a retired teacher, were employed by her parents at the Thompson Grain Company, Cayuga, Indiana. After her parent's passing, Helen Jo and Martin operated the business for several years.

Martin was a member of the American Legion, Cayuga, Indiana, Post 263. He served on the Board of Directors, Northwest Haiti Christian Mission. Beginning in 1979, he and Helen Jo made many trips to Haiti, where the mission school system they organized, starting with eleven students, has grown to well over two thousand children. Martin was a member of the Cayuga Christian Church, where he and Helen Jo were long-time members of the praise band. They were also members of the Harold Drollinger Band.

Martin's interest were many and varied, some of which were playing and writing music, traveling with Helen Jo throughout the states and to foreign lands, photography, hiking in the woods along the Wabash River, reading history and biographies.

Martin was preceded in death by his parents, Truman and Hazel (Martin) Whited of Champaign, Illinois, and two brothers, Glenn (Lavella) Whited of Champaign, Illinois, and Robert (Jean Whited of St. Anne, Missouri. Two living brothers, Keith Whited of Champaign, Illinois and Wayne (Linda) Whited of Savoy, Illinois. He had several nieces and nephews of whom he was very fond.

Services: 1 p.m. EST Thursday, December 17, 2020 at the Cayuga Christian Church Youth Center, 406 South Logan Street, Cayuga, Indiana 47928; Officiating: Ashton Stewart; Burial with Honors by the Cayuga American Legion Post 263: Thomas Cemetery, Newport, Indiana; Visitation: 11 a.m. EST Thursday, December 17, 2020 until time of services at the Youth Center. Contributions may be made to the Cayuga Christian Church or to the Northwest Haiti Christian Mission, 7301 North Georgetown Road, Suite 190, Indianapolis, Indiana 46268. DeVerter Funeral Home in Cayuga, Indiana is assisting the family with arrangements.