Roger L. Whiting

PAXTON - Roger L. Whiting, 72, founder of Growth Through Learning and a Financial Consultant for Allmerica Financial, died Saturday, May 1, 2010 in Worcester.

Mr. Whiting was born in Concord, NH, the son of Douglas B. and Irene (Kynast) Whiting. He was a graduate of Concord High School. He received a BA in Psychology from Brown University in 1959. He achieved professional certifications of Chartered Life Underwriter and Chartered Financial Consultant from the American College. He lived in Paxton for the last 12 years, and previously in Worcester and Shrewsbury.

Roger joined State Mutual Life Assurance Company in 1959 as a health underwriter and became sales representative and financial planner in 1962. He was past President of the Worcester Chapter of Chartered Life Underwriters, a lifetime member of the Million Dollar Roundtable and a State Mutual Ambassador.

In 1997, Mr. Whiting founded Growth Through Learning, a non-profit organization that provides scholarships to high school girls in East Africa. To date, Growth Through Learning has educated over 1100 young women in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda. Mr. Whiting was past President and member of the finance and personnel committees of the Worcester Center for Crafts, and past President of the Worcester Fresh Air Fund. He was an accomplished woodworker, enjoyed boating on Lake Winnipesaukee and golf.

He is survived by his wife, Jeanne Lynch Whiting; two sons, Steven Whiting and his wife Kelly and Douglas Whiting and his wife Judith; a step-son, Gregory Lynch and his wife, Hong Ying; a step-daughter, Jeannie Hofmeister and husband Franz; 12 grandchildren, Matthew, Jonathan, Daniel, Kathryn, James, Kalli, Sabrina, and Douglas Whiting, Cecilia, John, Annie, and Josef Hofmeister. He also leaves his siblings, Sidney Whiting and his wife Gerry, Shirley Clifford and her husband Irwin, Sue Macomber and her husband Dale, Robert Davis and his wife Mary, and Gene Tobey; as well as several nieces and nephews.

Relatives and friends are invited to attend calling hours starting at 5 p.m. followed by a celebration of his life at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, May 5th in the Miles Funeral Home, 1158 Main St., Holden. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Growth through Learning, 14 Fairfield Street, Medford, MA 02155. www.Growththroughlearning.org

Website & Guest book: www.milesfuneralhome.com