Larry R. Whiting Dr.

Dr. Larry R. Whiting, age 70, of Dublin, Ohio died Sunday, March 29, 2009 at First Community Village Care Center, in Columbus, Ohio. He was born January 2, 1939 in Iowa City, Iowa. He grew up on a farm near Central City, Iowa and was active in 4-H and the Future Farmers of America. A graduate of Central City Community School, Class of 1958, he received his bachelor’s degree in agricultural journalism in 1962 from Iowa State University. While an undergraduate student, he received a national writing award from Sigma Delta Chi for work published in the student publication Iowa Agriculturist. Upon graduation, he became farm and state editor of the Daily Reporter and Sunday Times in Spencer, Iowa. From 1963 to 1970, he worked at The Dakota Farmer magazine, serving as assistant editor, associate editor, director of public relations and editor. He returned to Iowa State in 1970, where he served as assistant extension editor until 1972. He was then appointed editor of the Center for Agricultural and Rural Development and the North Central Regional Center for Rural Development. He received a master’s degree in journalism and mass communications from Iowa State in 1976, and a doctorate in education in 1981, also from Iowa State. In June, 1981, he became chairman of the department of information and publications in the College of Agriculture at the University of Maryland. In 1985, he moved to The Ohio State University to become professor of agricultural education and head of communications and technology. He received an ACE Award of Excellence in communications management in 1994. In 1997 he received the “Irving” award from A-DEC, the Agricultural Distance Education Consortium, for longtime service. In July, 2001, he transferred from his administrative position and began teaching in the agricultural communication degree program teaching communication law, the senior seminar course, and coordinating the agricultural communication program. In May, 2004, the students in the College of Food, Agricultural and Environmental Sciences surprised him by dedicating the annual college student awards banquet in his honor. In 2005 he was honored again by the college with the Price Student Advising Award. He also received an ACE Outstanding Research Paper Award in 2002 and the Journal of Applied Communications Research Article of the Year Award in 2004. In 2005 he received the ACE Professional Award. He retired as Professor Emeritus from Ohio State on March 31, 2006. After his retirement, Larry enjoyed spending time on Lake Erie with his wife Linda and served as Commander of the Columbus Sail and Power Squadron in 2008. Larry is preceded in death by his parents Robert and Dorothy Whiting and by his daughter, Stacey Whiting. He is survived by his beloved wife of 41 ½ years, Linda Whiting, of Dublin, Ohio; children: Jeffrey (Zack Lynn) Whiting, of Columbus and Stephanie Berghausen, of Cincinnati, Ohio; grandson Taggart Whiting Berghausen; family friend, Jodi Miller, of Columbus; sisters: Mary Katherine (Robert) Phughaupt, of Central City, Iowa and Linda (Norman) Price, of Hopkinton, Iowa; many nieces and nephews and their families; and his constant canine companion, Carver. Larry was a member of Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, 5475 Brand Road, Dublin, Ohio 43017 where a Memorial Service will be held 11:00a.m. Saturday, April 4, 2009. Family will receive friends from 5:00-8:00p.m. Friday at the RUTHERFORD FUNERAL HOME at POWELL, 450 West Olentangy Street, Powell, Ohio 43065 (614)-792-1471 where a Columbus Sail and Power Squadron Service will be held at 7:00pm. (The funeral home is located on W.Olentangy St./Powell Rd./SR 750 ¼ mile east of Sawmill Parkway.) In lieu of flowers, friends are asked to consider a memorial contribution to: Central City Community Schools, FFA Program, 400 Barber Street, Central City, Iowa 52214, in Larry’s memory. Condolences may be sent to the family at: www.rutherfordfuneralhomes.com.