McMinnville resident and Alabama native Dean Whitman, 81, died Jan. 14 at River Park Hospital after an extended illness.A veteran of the U.S. Army and a lumber mill employee, he was a member of the Baptist Church. He was the son of the late Dean and Clara Bell Muncey Whitman. He was also preceded in death by son Eddie Dean Whitman, daughter Kathleen Whitman, brothers James and Carl Whitman, sister Gertrude Neal, and grandson Michael Betts.He is survived by his wife Bea Whitman of McMinnville, sons and daughter-in-law Michael and Pat Combs of McMinnville and John Combs of Whiteville, five daughters and sons-in-law Terri Ruggiero of Ohio, Becki Glazier of Ohio, Michelle and David Betts of Murfreesboro, Melissa and David Brown of Smithville, Rebecca and Delane Thomas of Hillsboro, brother Howard Whitman of McMinnville, five sisters and brothers-in-law Sue and Richard Manis of Painesville, Ohio, Georgia and Jack Trosky of McMinnville, Christine Turner of Smyrna, Mary Smith of Rock Island, Linda and Jimmy Gooch of McMinnville, 12 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.Funeral service is set for Monday at 11 a.m. at High’s Chapel with Sid Stanton officiating.