Obituary of William Whitton

William G. Whitton Plainfield - William G. Whitton, 88, died on Thursday, November 1, 2007 at Muhlenberg Regional Medical Center in Plainfield. Born in Lanark, Scotland, Mr. Whitton was raised in Tarrytown, New York and lived in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, and South Plainfield before settling in Plainfield in 1969. He graduated from St. Lawrence University in Canton, New York in 1947, earning a Bachelor of Arts Degree in both, English and History. From college, Mr. Whitton began his coaching career as a football coach for North Tarrytown High School in New York. Following the high school level, Bill made his way to the collegiate level of coaching football. He started at Lehigh University in Pennsylvania and went onto Princeton University, before earning the job at Holy Cross College in Massachusetts as head coach of their football program. After coaching at the college level, Mr. Whitton went back to coaching High School Football. He coached in North Plainfield where he also taught Social Studies, before finishing his coaching career at St. Pius High School in Piscataway. An Army Veteran who earned two Bronze Stars during WWII, Bill served in the European Theater. He was an avid reader and enjoyed gardening. He is pre-deceased by his wife Roberta Hamilton Whitton who died in 2002 and by his sister Emily Emslie who died earlier this year. Surviving are his daughter Joanne McGonigle and her husband Frank of South Plainfield, his son Brother Robert Whitton of the Holy Apostle Seminary in Cromwell, Connecticut, and by his four grandchildren; Elizabeth Larson, Ian McGonigle, Katie Flammer, and Brian McGonigle. Also surviving are his three great grandchildren; Mary, Andrew, and Michael Larson. Funeral Services will be held on Monday,, November 5, 2007 at 9:15 AM in the McCriskin - Gustafson Home For Funerals, 2425 Plainfield Avenue, South Plainfield, followed a 10:00 AM funeral mass at Sacred Heart RC Church, South Plainfield. Interment will follow in Holy Redeemer Cemetery, South Plainfield. Visitation will be held on Sunday, November 4, 2007 from 2-4 and 7-9 PM in the funeral home.