AECS (AW) Brian Allen Willhite, USN Retired, was born January 16, 1962 in Beech Grove, Indiana. He was a son of the late Sharon Kay Belcher-Willhite and Eddie Lee Willhite.
He married Sandra Marie Wooddell May 22, 1982, at the Big Springs Presbyterian Church in Slaty Fork.
Brian had an illustrious career, serving his country for more than 20 years in the United States Navy. Most notably, being selected to serve in the Elite Naval Flight Demonstration Team, the Blue Angels.
After retiring from the military at age 39, he became the Power Manager for Verizon in the Washington D.C. area. He was responsible for maintaining backup power systems for central office telephone buildings in the D.C., Northern Virginia and Maryland districts.
After leaving Verizon and moving his family to West Virginia, he was employed by Snowshoe Mountain as Solid Waste Manager. He transferred to Silver Creek and maintained their compressor house as well as repairing computerized snow guns and then transferred to Snowshoe Building Maintenance until he permanently retired in December 2023.
Brian was an avid fisherman, hunter, shade tree mechanic and BBQ aficionado.
He is survived by his devoted spouse of 43 years, Sandra; their loving son, Joshua Brent Willhite, and fiancée, Amanda; elder brother, Larry Willhite; and baby sisters, Anissa McCrory (Clyde) and Erin Willhite (Billy); aunts, Jean and Betty; brothers- and sisters-in-law, Bill Wooddell (Lisa), Katie Hogan (Mike), and Lt. Colonel Sidney Eilertson, whom he loved wholeheartedly as true siblings, and not in-laws. He was loved and admired by his numerous nieces and nephews on both sides of the family.
He was loyal to his friends, witty, funny, generous and filled with a passion to make the world a better place.
He is alive in Christ and reunited with his mother and father, parents-in-law, Brent (Woody) and Gladys Wooddell; brother, Kevin Willhite; baby sister, Tonya Ashpaugh (Brent); sisters, Carolyn Eilertson and Barbara Eck; and his nieces and nephews, who preceded him in death.
Funeral service was held Sunday, February 9, 2025, at the Lantz Funeral Home in Buckeye.
Burial was in Mountain View Cemetery with Military Graveside Rites.
Online condolences may be shared at Lantzfuneralhome.com
