Russell Todd Wilhite passed away peacefully with his brother by his side on Friday, December 16, 2022, in Denison, Texas, at the age of 55. He was born on January 25, 1967, in Durant, Okla., to Rayborn Earl and Aleta Faye (Kent) Wilhite.
Russell loved to draw, listen to music, and enjoyed working on old cars. He was the happiest when he was able to spend time on the river and fishing. He loved his nieces and nephew as if they were his own children and even carried their photos in his wallet. He was also a cat lover. The job that he was most proud of was being a supervisor at Best Fender Products for many years.
Left behind to cherish Russell’s memory are his siblings: brother, Mark Wilhite of Silo, Okla., brother, Darrell Wilhite of Atoka, Okla., and his sister, Melissa Beckham and her husband Terry of Ardmore, Okla.; nieces include: Sabrina Tynan and her husband Tim of Durant, Okla., Shayla Staneart of Ardmore, Okla., Courtney Mobbs and her husband Bubba of Atoka, Okla., Kayla Wilhite of Calera, Okla., Sierra Wilhite of Sherman, Texas, Shelby Beckham of Ardmore, Okla., and one nephew, Zac Beckham of Ardmore, Okla.; cousins include Rhonda Chandler and her husband Kenny of Cobb, Okla., Debbie Bragg of Blue, Okla., Grady Smith and his wife Angela of Blue, Okla., Heather Smith of Blue, Okla., Andrea Miller and her husband Tim of Tishomingo, Okla., Lori Bennett and her husband Stacy of Caney, Okla., Shembra Wilson and her husband Cliff of Caney, Okla., and Brandi Ansiel and her husband Bobby of Cobb, Okla.
Preceding Russell in death are his parents, Rayborn and Aleta Wilhite; grandparents, Clinton and Bonnie Kent, Kermit Huff Wilhite, and Claudie (Headrick) Covington.
A graveside service will be held on Wednesday, December 21, 2022, at 10a at the Pleasant Hill Cemetery with Dennis Pena officiating. Serving as pallbearers will be Zac Beckham, Bubba Mobbs, Tim Tynan and Chad Phillips.
Services are under the direction of Holmes Coffey Murray Funeral Home in Durant, Okla. www.holmescoffeymurray.com