James Perry Whitney

James Whitney, beloved son of Susan Doxey and the late David Whitney, passed away on Saturday morning, May 18th 2019.  He was preceded in death by his loving and supportive grandparents, Carol and Vernon Whitney, and John and Patricia Doxey.

He is survived by his daughter Claire, his mother Susan, his sister Adrianne, and his brothers Nicholas and Andrew.

James had been living in the Washington D.C. area with Kaley Kopecky, having moved there in September 2018 to take a job with Aviation Week, a highly reputed periodical in the aerospace field. This was an excellent fit, as James had a lifelong passion for all things military, aeronautical, historical and political, and he had a commanding, encyclopedic knowledge of these subjects.

James became friends with Ladd Hoffman in first grade, and they remained friends ever since.

They attended T. H. Rogers Vanguard School from first through eighth grade, followed by three years at Debakey High School for Health Professions, and one year at Carnegie Vanguard High School. James was awarded a National Merit Scholarship and attended Washington University in Saint Louis, graduating with honors in 2008.

At age three friends and relatives were describing James as a self-contained child. In fact, his older cousins had begun referring to him as the “toddler genius.”  His exceptional intelligence was on full display when his parents realized that he had taught himself to read by listening to his older sister, Adrianne. After learning to read James plowed through the sagas of the Berenstain Bears.  He was barely 4 years old. James maintained this passion for reading throughout his life.

There is no way for us to know the full depths of James’ inner life, but we know that it was vast. We cherish his contributions to our lives and are eternally grateful.