Ronald Fenton Whiting

Ronald “Ron” Fenton Whiting, 88, passed away peacefully in his sleep of natural causes on the morning of October 29, 2026, at Desert Willows Memory Care in St. George, Utah.

Ron was born on December 14, 1937, in Grass Valley, California, to Joseph Fenton Whiting and Aileen Rosalie McCrea Whiting. Raised in the Sierra foothills, he graduated from Nevada Union High School before attending California State University, Chico. At Chico State, Ron competed on the men’s varsity tennis team and earned his Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering in 1961—laying the foundation for a lifelong passion for both athletics and civil service.

Following graduation, Ron embarked on an adventurous career as a surveyor and civil engineer. For the first seventeen years of his career, he traveled throughout the American West with the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), with extended years in Elko, Nevada, and Fremont, California. Among his proudest professional achievements was his participation in a six-month scientific expedition to Antarctica in 1970. While mapping the Lassiter Coast Traverse, Ron’s vital contributions were permanently commemorated with the naming of Mount Whiting on Antarctica’s Condor Peninsula. Ron later returned to his beloved hometown, retiring in 2004 after many years of dedicated service as a city engineer for the City of Grass Valley.

Ron was married to Del Marie Ashbaugh on September 6, 1959, at the Grass Valley Episcopal Church. A devoted member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Ron and Del were sealed in the St. George Utah Temple on February 24, 1970. Later in life, Ron found love and companionship again when he married Agnes Cordez (Buluang Bato, Camarines Sur, Philippines) on December 7, 2013.

Outside of his professional career, Ron was an avid gardener, passionate family history researcher, and enthusiastic walker. He never lost his love for the tennis court and could often be found outdoors tending to his yard.

Ron is survived by his wife, Agnes Whiting; his son, Jeffrey (Jeff) Whiting of Roseburg, OR; his daughters and sons-in-law, Carol (Keri) and Reed Prince of Amity, OR, Kelly and Brian Bready of American Fork, UT, Kathryn (Kathy) and Nefi Garcia of Henderson, NV, Kasey Harmer of Idaho Falls, ID, and Jamie and Jeff Giguere of Mesa, AZ; along with 20 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Joseph and Aileen Whiting; his sisters, Carolyn Ann and Loretta May; his brother, Joseph M. Whiting; his first wife, Del Marie; and his granddaughter, Bailey Whiting.

Interment will take place at New Elm Ridge Cemetery in Grass Valley, California.The family wishes to extend their deepest gratitude to the compassionate caregivers and nursing staff at Desert Willows Memory Care and Zion’s Way Hospice for their tender care and support during Ron’s final days.