Richard Guy Whitten, manager of a fire protection services firm, died early Wednesday morning of a heart attack on the way to Greater Baltimore Medical Center from his home in Towson. He was 51.
Mr. Whitten was born in Washington and raised in the Rodgers Forge area. He graduated from Towson High School in 1969 and attended the University of Maryland, College Park for three years.
He later earned bachelor's degrees in chemistry and education from the University of Delaware.
After graduating, Mr. Whitten worked as a chemist at a textiles company in Wilmington, Del. Later, he and his wife, the former Sally Lou Harris, operated a residential and commercial cleaning business in Bear, Del., for six years.
Mr. Whitten moved back to Maryland in 1996 and bought a house in the Towson area. He worked a series of jobs, including catering meals for relatives and friends, before he became manager of Chesapeake Protection Services in Odenton about four years ago.
Mr. Whitten's interests included listening to music and working on his garden and fish pond alongside Dave, a gray tabby cat.
He also enjoyed taking his children crabbing in the Wye River and having barbecues in his back yard. He was an avid fan of the Orioles, Terrapins and Ravens.
Services were held yesterday at the Church of the Redeemer.
Mr. Whitten is survived by his wife of 24 years; a daughter, Kelly S. Miller of Baltimore; two sons, Kirk W. Miller of Bear and Kenneth R. Miller of Germany; a brother, David G. Whitten of Albuquerque, N.M.; a sister, Rilla M. Whitten of Ocean City; and a grandson, Jack Lewis Miller of Bear.
