Allen Ray Whetstone

Allen Ray Whetstone, "Flint" in his business circles, 90 yrs., passed away February 8, 2021 at his home in Sacramento, California. He is survived by his wife Dorothy (Cruzan) Whetstone, together about 50 years (m.- 2015) and his six children, Deora (Toby) August, Chris (Ed) Schade, Wayne (Debby) Whetstone, Ken (Candice) Whetstone,Annette (Daniel) Hilt, C. Scott (Misty) Whetstone, Sean Hardesty, who is a grandson he and Dorothy raised, and step-children Gene G. (Sarah) Hardesty, David E. (Beth) Hardesty, John M. Hardesty, and Michael K. Hardesty. He also has 26 grandchildren and many great-grandchildren.  

Allen was the firstborn on June 19, 1930 in Plains, Kansas to Harold & Anna (Graves) Whetstone. He spent his young childhood in Delta, Colorado, which is the birth place of all his brothers, William "Bill" Whetstone, Everett E. Whetstone, and Orn L. Whetstone. The family moved to Logan, Utah in 1938, which he considered home through high school and college years. At a very young age he discovered he could get paid by picking up and delivering groceries on his bicycle for the elderly. 

Allen joined the Army and served as a Sargent in the Korean War Conflict. After Basic Training he served near the front lines as a mechanic, repairing everything from the small battle Jeeps, Double Deuces, Half-Tracks, and tanks on occasion in Equipment Support. Along with his military training and many opportunities in Korea, he obtained the status of Marksman with the rifle and pistol.  

After returning from Korea, he entered college. He was already an accomplished vehicle mechanic when he furthered his education in Aircraft Engines and Airframe to his list of skills. A short time later he expanded his credentials with the FAA to include Aircraft Inspection and Aircraft Licensing, along with being a pilot of single and multi-engine aircraft. After returning from Korea, Allen married Colleen (Wood) August in June 1952. In short time they decided to make Citrus Heights, California the location to raise their six children. 

Allen’s work history spans over 80 years. He has many, many friends and is widely known throughout the Sacramento Valley Region in his profession and expertise in complete Aircraft Repair, Overhaul, and Restoration. His diagnostic skills and abilities were emulated by many. He traveled all over the area valleys and foothills to the hundreds of airfields, inspecting and licensing aircraft for hundreds of people that knew him. Early in his career in the Sacramento Valley, in the late 1950s and into the 1960s, he worked at Capitol Sky Park and Saturn Airways, before spending more than 45 years working at Farm Air Flying Service in Agricultural Aviation. One of his many professional achievements is that he completely restored a WW II TBM Avenger (Torpedo Bomber). His ability and value of work ran deep within him, retiring at 86 years of age. 

Allen has a deep love for the mountains and the outdoors. Deer hunting is on high on his list for the mountains. After arriving in California in the mid 1950s, he met one of his life long friends, LB (Lee) & Margaret Reeves (they have preceded him in death). Both Allen & Lee have traversed and hunted the mountains of Northern California, in both the Sierra Nevada and Coastal Mountain ranges for many years! Both Allen and Lee's prowess with the hunting rifle is difficult to exceed. Besides their camaraderie and love for hunting, they both shared service in the Korean War. Allen’s mountain hiking ability is only surpassed by mules and mountain goats. With his superb endurance, even in his advanced years, his oldest son found it difficult to keep track of him in such a vast wilderness as the Sierra Nevada Mountains. His internal compass while in the mountains was better than any G.P.S. device you could have. The tops of the mountains is where he admired God’s creations more than any other. 

Allen had an impeccable ability to have an intelligent conversation with anyone regarding any subject with a high level of comfort. He had a great deal of love and respect for his mother and would fly to her home at a moment’s notice if it was needed. Though stern, he was respected as he treated others with a great deal of dignity. 

He was preceded in death by his parents, Harold M. Whetstone (Sept.1972) and Anna L. Whetstone (Jul.1982), one brother Bill H. Whetstone (Jul. 1993), and two grandsons, Geoffrey A. Whetstone (Aug. 2005), and Brandon S. August (Nov. 2013). Price Funeral Chapel is handling the arrangements. Burial will be February 23, 2021 in the Sylvan Cemetery, in the veteran section. 

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