Tony Burnice Whittington, 81, of Amarillo, TX passed away on Sunday, December 26, 2021.
Tony was born on March 21, 1940, in Amarillo, TX to Burnice and Velda Whittington. He was Drum Major in the band at both Sam Houston Junior High and Amarillo High School. Tony graduated from Amarillo High School in 1958. He then attended Texas Tech University where he earned both a bachelor’s degree in business and a master’s degree in education. While at Texas Tech he was a drum major with TTU Marching Band and a member of both the US Air Force ROTC and Phi Kappa Psi.
In 1963, Tony enlisted as an officer in the US Air Force. His service included duty as a C-130 navigator and as a public relations officer stationed in Saigon. Throughout his time in the Air Force Tony traveled all over the world, sparking a lifelong interest in travel and photography. After serving his country, Tony was a Residence Hall Director at Texas Tech (1969-80), and then the Promotions and Marketing Coordinator at the Amarillo Civic Center. In 1985 he married his high school sweetheart, Sue Thompson, and they settled in Amarillo. Tony enjoyed a lifelong passion for traveling, golf, photography, reading, classical music, and writing. Golfing was a long-term hobby starting as a caddy at the Amarillo Country Club as a teen, and then as a member for many years when he returned to Amarillo. He utilized his writing and editorial skills as the editor for both Phi Kappa Psi and the Episcopal Diocese of Northwest Texas newsletters. He particularly enjoyed traveling to the mountains in New Mexico for camping and photography trips with his family.
He was preceded in death by his brother, Richard Whittington in 2004 and his parents.
He is survived by his wife, Sue Thompson Mast Whittington of Amarillo; daughter, Merrill (Scott) Kingsbury of Denver, CO; son, John (Caitlin) Whittington of Seattle, WA; stepdaughter, Patricia Mast of Grand Prairie, TX; and stepson, David Mast of Amarillo, TX.
A service will be held on Saturday, January 8th, 2022, at 2:00 p.m. in the Chapel at the Craig Senior Living, 5500 SW 9th St, Amarillo. Masks are mandatory and COVID protocols will be in place.
