Family and friends will gather at Callaway-Jones Funeral Center in Bryan, Texas, beginning at 3 p.m. on March 22, 2025, for a celebration of his life.

In lieu of flowers, consideration of contributions to Blinn College Foundation in his memory is suggested. Wes was born Jan. 31, 1937, in Sweetwater, Texas. The family lived in Ballinger, San Angelo and Fort Stockton, where he completed his last two years of high school.

It was here in a church youth group that he met the love of his life, Beverly Bob Cleveland. Wes and Beverly married Dec. 27, 1958, while both were students at Baylor University, where he earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in physics. He started his career at Naval Ordnance Laboratory in Riverside, California, and began raising a family. With three young children, they moved to San Diego where he worked at Naval Electronics Laboratory Center (later NOSC), leading projects to develop the first infrared periscope surveillance system for submarines.

After 33 years in civil service and with their children grown, they moved back to Texas, settling in Brenham. Wes had enjoyed teaching as a graduate student and at night school in Riverside, so he began teaching physics and astronomy at Blinn College as a second career that lasted 21 years.

He was a long-time active member in Magnolia Ave. Baptist Church in Riverside, First Southern Baptist Church in San Diego, and First Baptist Church in Brenham, where he sang in the choir, served as director of Sunday School and was an ordained deacon.

He enjoyed photography, woodworking, electronics, history and reading. All those who knew him remember his patience, devotion, integrity and good humor.

Wes was preceded in death by his parents, Wesley H. and Ledy Poteet Whitman, and a sister, Joan Whitman Ligon.

Wes is survived by his wife of 66 years, Beverly; two sons, Mark (Carrie) Whitman of Grapevine, Texas, and Roger (Beth) Whitman of Greensboro, North Carolina; one daughter, Serena Hajdik of Spring, Texas; 10 grandchildren: Emily Whitman, Grapevine; Matthew (Hannah) Whitman, Mansfield, Texas; Justin Whitman, Seagrove, North Carolina; Andrew (fiancée Eva) Whitman, Grapevine; Charlie (Brooke) Whitman, North Wilkesboro, North Carolina; Jessica (Neil) Jones, Randleman, North Carolina; Erin (Shawn) Cardwell, Abingdon, Maryland; Amanda Hajdik, Brenham; Kayla Hajdik, Spring; and Daniel Hajdik, Conroe, Texas; and two great-grandchildren.