Family Killed in Plane Crash Remembered

A memorial for the Whitttle family, former Glendora residents who were killed last week in a small plane crash in Idaho, was held Tuesday at the Claremont Chapel of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, where family members and friends came to pay their respects.

The family was headed to Provo, Utah for LDS Education Week at Brigham Young University, when the small aircraft they were riding in crashed shortly after takeoff Aug. 15 in Idaho. The family -- Randy Whittle, 42, his wife Vicki, 46, and their children, Maclean, 16, and Brittany, 13 -- were killed instantly in the fiery crash.

The cause of the crash is still under investigation.

MacLean and Brittany attended schools in the Claremont Unified School District for the past year after moving to Claremont from Glendora.

The Whittle children had grown up in the Glendora Unified School District and were well known, said school board president Doug Ferrell.

"[They were] wonderful people, known by many," said Ferrell, closing Monday’s meeting in honor of the family.

Tuesday’s memorial gathered friends and family to remember the fondest memories the Whittles gave in life.

Kirsten Clark, a family friend, recalled 13-year-old Brittany as a girl whose attitude and laughter were contagious. Clark said the young Whittle daughter was a member of the Beehives, a group of 12-13 year olds who worked together in church. She wanted to be a singer when she was older and had a beautiful voice, according to Clark.

"I'm a better person for knowing the Whittle family. If there were no mourning in death, there would be no love in life and I know Brittany loved life," said Clark.

Lynn Forester, another family friend knew 16-year-old MacLean and said the Whittle boy, who suffered from asthma was an excellent musician, was a boy scout, loved to dance at school functions and had many friends.

"I so loved to hear him play," said Forester who added MacLean played the piano often at her early morning seminar class where she got to know the boy.

Forester said the Whittle boy wrote in a school questionnaire that he wanted to work for the CIA and that he did not allow his asthma to interfere with his participation in various sports.

"The inhaler was not going to win," said Forester.

MacLean was said to have loved church dances and even though boys are not allowed to attend them until they are at least 14 years old, Forester said MacLean coaxed his way into them earlier and showed others how to have wholesome fun at all the parties he attended.

Tanya Warren, another family friend said as the Whittle matriarch, Vicki, loved being with her family.

 "She really knew how to roll with the punches. She wasn't artsy or crafty, but she had enthusiasm and she educated herself and loved to learn,” said Warren.

Warren, who said she knew the Whittles well, added Vicki loved chocolate and was a kind person who knit clothes for women with breast cancer and sent gifts to soldiers stationed overseas, among other charitable acts.

Warren said she was shocked and saddened deeply by hearing about the Whittles' accident because they always took the time to know and love other people.

Family friend Robert LaRoche said 42-year-old Randy moved to Claremont from Glendora so that the children could be in a large ward.

He remembered many times when Randy would offer his home to others for church-related functions and to watch USC football games.

"Randy had a great perspective about what he had. He thought everything should be used and shared, even his home," LaRoche said.