Greetings Friends,
On July 28, 2026, God called and Howard Ray “H.R.” Whittington, 68 of St. Albans, formerly of Dunbar, answered the call and was welcomed home by his Lord and Savior.
H.R. was a certified celebrant and a man known for his wisdom, unwavering faith, integrity, and loyalty. He devoted his life to serving others, encouraging those around him, and living as an example of Christian love. He treasured his friends, and the many lives he was blessed to touch throughout the years.
In his own words, H.R. leaves this message to all who knew and loved him:
“I have been blessed with an amazing group of friends. May we all continue to pray for each other, and that God watches over us. Faith, Hope, and Love—and the greatest of these is Love. Amen and Amen.”
A tribute to the life of H.R. will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, August 9, 2026, at Gatens-Harding Funeral Home in Poca, with Pastors Pete Thompson and Delbert Hawley officiating. Following the service, everyone is invited to remain for fellowship and light refreshments.
The procession to the cemetery will begin at 4:00 p.m., with a brief committal service at Haven of Rest Memory Gardens—a place made especially meaningful to H.R. because his father helped Joseph Gatens design the cemetery.
H.R. requested no flowers be sent, but financial tributes may be sent to Kanawha Hospice Care.
May God Bless each of You.
Also, as an advocate of organ donation since a teenager, please consider making that personal commitment.
