January 26, 2022
Whiting, George F.
May 19, 1927 – January 25, 2022
George Fowler Whiting, beloved husband of Hilda Dagmar Gunnila Sjöström Whiting, died January 25, 2022 with family by his side. He was born on May 19, 1927, the son of Mary and William Whiting of Holyoke, Mass. He was predeceased by his brother William (Bill) Whiting, Bill’s wife Polly, and their son William (Billy) of Newport Beach, California.
George and Gunnila were longtime residents of Dover, Mass. who in recent years had moved to Fox Hill Village in Westwood, Mass.
George graduated from Deerfield Academy (class of 1945) and enlisted in the U.S. Navy, from which he was honorably discharged in 1946. He then attended Amherst College (class of 1951).
After college he worked at Whiting Paper Company in Holyoke until it closed in 1955. He then went on to work for International Paper Company’s pulp division, followed by Mosinee Paper Corporation beginning in 1965. He founded the George F. Whiting Company in Wellesley, Mass. in 1970, where he worked until his retirement in 1995.
George married the love of his life, Gunnila of Bromma, Sweden in 1960. A chance meeting on a sidewalk in Stockholm in 1957 led to a 65 year romance which grew into a family that moved from New York City, to Old Greenwich, Conn., and finally to Dover, Mass.
In his teens George was an award winning marksman. As a young man, he enjoyed occasional trips to Europe in his free time. He also learned to fly a plane, and especially loved flying around southern New England in his Cessna airplane, guided by a compass, two-way radio, and road map.
George was active in The Dover Church and on the board of Newagen Colony on Southport Island, Maine. He enjoyed reading, exploring Maine, hiking in New Hampshire, playing tennis, taking photos, and listening to live jazz. Above all he enjoyed spending time with family, always including a dog.
George leaves Gunnila, their 3 children, their spouses, and 7 grandchildren: Karin and Russ Burgess of Stonington, Conn. (Emilie, Annika, and Margit); George and Anna Whiting of Medfield, Mass. (Linnea and Henry); and Christina and Darin Dougherty of Wellesley, Mass. (Emma and Will).
George will be deeply missed by his family and friends. His warm smile, kindness, sense of humor, style, and unwavering dedication to honesty were remarkable. He was a true gentleman.
The family thanks the professionals at Fox Hill Village’s White Oak Cottages for their dedication and thoughtful care over the past 18 months despite restrictive pandemic conditions.
A celebration of life will be held at The Dover Church on Friday, June 3 at 11:00 am.
In lieu of flowers please send support to The Trustees of Reservations, 200 High Street, Boston, MA 02110. Trustees properties in Dover and Medfield were some of George’s favorite places to walk.
Comments(2)
I knew George as a delightful, fun-filled gentleman living as my neighbor here at Fox Hill Village. He will be missed!
I have known George since starting Amherst College in 1947, and I have known the family both in Dover and at Fox Hill Village. George was a lifelong friend with good news always and a beautiful family.