Obituaries

Dorothy Hibbert

Los Gatos resident Dorothy Henson Hibbert died on July 28, at the age of 85.

Born March 11, 1915, in Texas, Hibbert spent her childhood years in the Northern California towns of Westwood and Susanville before moving to San Jose in 1945. She retired from the E.A. Hathaway Construction Company after working for 40 years as office manager.

Among Hibbert's interests was quilting and needlework; she leaves her family many samples of her handiwork, to be passed on to future generations.

Hibbert was preceded in death by her daughter Diana Laird Weinmann and son Paul Hafter. Survivors include son Bill Adams; daughter Lynn Rattinger; eight grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; brother William Henson and sister Barbara Henson.

Memorial services have been held.

Robert Whitlow

Los Gatan Robert Theodore Whitlow died on Aug. 14, at the age of 82.

Born in 1918 in San Francisco to native Californian parents, Whitlow grew up in Sonoma County and later in Oakland. He developed his lifelong interest in sports and outdoor activities at an early age, caddying at the Sonoma Mission Inn and hunting small game to supplement his family's meals during the Depression. While at Roosevelt High School in Oakland, Whitlow played on his school golf and football teams and also played on a citywide baseball team. After graduating from high school, Whitlow signed on with the St. Louis Cardinals as a pitcher.

His baseball career was cut short when he went into the U.S. Army in February 1941, where he would serve three years in the South Pacific. He received many honors while serving as a tech sergeant with the 40th Infantry/185th Division and was awarded the Silver Star for gallantry in action near Bamban, Luzon, in the Philippines. On Feb. 12, 1945, he was commissioned a 2nd lieutenant.

Upon returning from the war, Whitlow joined the J.C. Penney Co. in San Rafael, working first as a window dresser and sign maker, then advancing to assistant manager, where he worked with store manager Deal Christensen. After six years with Penney's, Whitlow and Christensen established Chrislow's in Los Gatos in 1951.

Whitlow sold his partnership two years later and opened Whitlow's Department Store on Park Place in Saratoga. The store was relocated to Big Basin Way in the 1960s. The store was a true family business, with Whitlow running the day-to-day operations, his wife serving as bookkeeper and their daughters serving as sales clerks. The store closed following his 1980 retirement.

Whitlow was an avid outdoorsman and conservationist. He participated in the Hawaiian International Billfish Tournament; was a life member and past president of the Saratoga Sportsmans' Association and Saratoga Optimist Club; and a past president of the Saratoga Merchants' Association. He also served as district commissioner for the Boy Scouts and received two recognition plaques from the Girl Scouts and 4-H Club.

Survivors include wife Jeanne Whitlow of Saratoga; daughters and sons-in-law Janice and Ken Hofmann of San Jose and Shirlee and Larry Tam of Tracy; granddaughter Jeanne Leary; great-grandson Austin Leary; and sister Roberta Thela Crane of Calistoga.

Memorial services have been held, with interment at San Joaquin Valley National Cemetery in Gustine, an area in which he had enjoyed hunting.

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