EllaMay (Brogan) Whitten

EllaMay (Brogan) Whitten, 71, of Princeton, passed away Sunday, March 31, 2024 at her home. She was born July 13, 1952 in Princeton. EllaMay graduated from Wood Memorial High School, Vincennes Business College, and Bob Jones University where she earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education. She taught 4th grade at Heritage Hall Christian School in Muncie before marrying the love of her life, John Ed Whitten. EllaMay began her Master degree at ISU in learning disabilities. She enjoyed tutoring children and did a lot of substitute teaching at Bethel Christian School. Later, she home schooled her children and was very active in Gibson County Christian Home Educators. EllaMay and her husband were involved in teen ministries for almost 40 years. God gave her and her husband many opportunities to serve Him for which they are very thankful. She was a past member of McCullough Grove Baptist Church in Oakland City and current member of Bethel Memorial Church in Princeton. They were involved with the puppet ministry called SonShine puppets. In 2004 EllaMay graduated from clown college with the River City Clowns, where she was known as “Waddles” alongside her husband, “Buttons”. They went on mission trips to the Dominican Republic, Costa Rica, and Quebec, Canada. She dearly loved her family and her brothers and sisters in the Lord, where she always sought to be a source of encouragement to them. When not clowning around, she loved playing in the woods with her grandchildren, swimming in their pool, and mowing the pasture. EllaMay had a passion for people, the young and the young at heart. 

She was preceded in death by her parents, Paul Brogan and Margaret (Sills) Brogan; and paternal grandmother, Emma Brogan.

EllaMay is survived by her husband of 45 blessed years, Ed Whitten of Princeton; children, Andrew Whitten (Amanda) of Ft. Branch, Matthew Whitten (Anita) of Erlanger, Kentucky, and John Whitten (Katherine Spinella) of Portland, Oregon; grandchildren, Ezra Whitten, Alexandra Whitten, Caleb Whitten, Tyler Whitten, Bradley Whitten, Lauren Whitten, and Levi Whitten; and brothers, Bob Brogan (Kathy) and Charles Brogan (Terrie).

The funeral service will be held at 11 AM Saturday, April 6, 2024 at Bethel Memorial Church in Princeton officiated by Pastor Kevin Wilson with interment to follow at Maple Hill Cemetery in Princeton.

Visitation will be held on Friday from 4 PM to 7 PM at the church and again Saturday 10 AM at the church until service time.

For those who wish, memorial contributions can be given to the Maple Hill Cemetery, PO Box 394 Princeton, IN 47670, Well Well Projects, 8371 N. Interstate Ave #1 Portland, OR 97217, or "Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center” at https://www.cancer.northwestern.edu/giving/index.html. Envelopes will be available at the church.

Online condolences can be given at www.ColvinFuneralHome.com where you can share a memory of EllaMay. Colvin Funeral Home is honored to serve the Whitten family.

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