Obituary of Rosemary Whitney

Born (1915) and raised in Ottumwa, Iowa, and having lived in Santa Barbara, California for over 50 years, Rosemary Avery Swenson Whitney died on September 6, 2011 at Samarkand Retirement Community. For a number of years she taught piano and worked in the real estate field. She played piano for 90 years, was a member of Music Teachers Association of California, Santa Barbara Music Club, and First Presbyterian Church, where she was active for many years. In 1938, as a young schoolteacher who had recently graduated from Iowa Wesleyan College, Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, Rosemary married Leigh Dean Whitney, also of Ottumwa. After Leigh obtained his medical degree they moved to California and began to raise a family. Dr. Whitney died in 1997. In 2000 Rosemary married Donald F. Williams of Santa Barbara, a family friend of 52 years, who was deceased in 2009. Also pre-deceasing Mrs. Whitney were her brother, Robert E. Swenson and his wife Frances of Aptos, CA, and step-grandson Tony Waller of Carpinteria, CA. Survivors include son Brian L. Whitney (Margaret) of Ojai, CA, daughter Ann W. Carey (Steve) of Bakersfield, CA, and son Dean R. Whitney (Linda) of Kula, HI. Other family members are grandson Todd Carey (Khristina) of Bakersfield, granddaughters Ashley Fishberger (Ross) of Oakland Gardens, NY, Shea Davis (Rob) of Ojai, Sarah Carey of Palo Alto, and step-granddaughter Dacia Flynn (Jon) of Kula. Great-grandchildren are Truman and Vincent Carey, Cameron Cuthbert and Tyler Davis, Alexis Flynn, and another expected in October. Mrs. Whitney is also survived by six nieces and nephews. A memorial service will be held at First Presbyterian Church on December 10 of this year at 2pm. Interment at Santa Barbara Cemetery will be private The Whitney family requests that, in lieu of flowers, you consider a donation to First Presbyterian Church, 21 E. Constance Ave., Santa Barbara.