George LeRoy Whitten, 80, Fayetteville, died Jan. 28, 2007. He was born Oct. 22, 1926 in Newton, Middlesex County, Mass. He enlisted in the United States Army on Jan. 20, 1945. He went to the Airborne School and Communications School at Ft. Benning. He was assigned to the 782nd Airborne Maintenance Co., 82nd Airborne Div. Ft. Bragg, N.C., and the 502nd Airborne battle group, 101st Airborne Div. Ft. Campbell, Ky. He later joined the 1st Airborne Battle Group 504 Infantry in Mainz, Germany and Ft. Bragg. He also was a part of the 5th Special Forces group going to Vietnam, later joined the 7th Special Forces Group, and then the 1st special Forces group in Okinawa. His last assignment was a student detachment in the Military District of Washington, D. C., and Ft. Myer, Va. He retired from the Army on Aug. 1, 1969 with many decorations. He went to work for the United States Postal Service, and retired with 22 years of service. He was a life member of Chapter XXXIII special forces, secretary/treasurer of both the Atlanta All Airborne chapter and the Airborne Historical Association. He was also a 4th degree of the Knights of Columbus No. 11458, Fayetteville. Services were at St. Gabriel Catholic Church with the Rev. Father Jimmy Adams officiating. Interment was at Westminster Memorial Gardens, Peachtree City. Survivors include his wife, Nora Whitten, Fayetteville; a son, George Whitten Jr., Jonesboro; a daughter, Wanda and Chris Kunkel, Grayson, Ga.; a grandson, Bob Kunkel; a brother, Everett Whitten, Pearsall, Texas; and a sister, Jeanne Hume, Chicopee, Mass. Carl J. Mowell & Son Funeral Home, Fayetteville, was in charge.