Dennis L. Whitson

Dennis L. Whitson, age 71, of New Philadelphia, passed away Monday, November 30, 2020, in Sycamore Run Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, Millersburg.

Born Christmas Day, 1948, in Salem, he was a son of the late John P. Whitson and Mary M. Schory Whitson Frank. Dennis served honorably with the U.S. Army’s 101st Airborne Division during the Vietnam War, and later earned his GED credential. He married the former Katherine “Kathy” Swauger, who survives, on November 20, 1982. Dennis was employed as a machinist until ill health no longer permitted him to work. He loved his family, especially his granddaughter. Dennis enjoyed the outdoors, and, In his younger days, liked to hunt and fish. Later in life, he enjoyed working with wood and took up walking.

Dennis will be dearly missed by his wife, Kathy; his daughter, Nicole (fiance, Joseph Pritz) Whitson; his granddaughter, Gwendolyn; his siblings, Sally Lang and Jack (Judy) Whitson; his father-in-law, Harold Swauger; his sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law, Sue and Jeff Ellwood and Rita and Ken Hartman; his four nieces and three nephews; and his ten great-nieces and great-nephews.

In addition to his birth parents, Dennis was preceded in death by his step-father, Joseph Frank, who played a large part in his upbringing, and by his mother-in-law, Catherine "Kay" Swauger.

Honoring Dennis’ wishes, he will be cremated. A memorial service will be held Saturday, December 5, at 11 a.m., in the Toland-Herzig Funeral Home & Crematory, Dover. Pastor Harley Wheeler of New Philadelphia’s Broadway United Methodist Church will officiate. Masks are required and social distancing must be observed. To sign an online guestbook and share a fond memory of Dennis, please visit the Obituaries link on the funeral home’s website.

The family suggests that contributions in Dennis’ memory be made to Broadway United Methodist Church, 120 Church Ave. S.E., or, Community Hospice, 716 Commercial Ave. S.W., both addresses at New Philadelphia, Ohio 44663.