Luther "Dana Wayne" Whitten passed away on June 12, 2018, just a month shy of his 94th birthday. Born in Barre, Vermont on July 18th, 1924, he served his country during WWII as a radio operator with the 6th Armored Division of Patton's 3rd Army in France. He later re-enlisted to serve in the Air Force with the 22nd Crash Rescue Boat Squadron during the Korean conflict, but his service overseas ended abruptly in January of 1953 on news that his wife and two children were killed after their car collided with a train near their home in Albany, New York. Mourning the loss of his family, Dana moved to Texas in the 1960's and joined the El Paso Police Department. In April of 1975, he was sworn in as Chief of Police for the town of Anthony, Texas. In the 1980's he served with the Port Lavaca Police Department and the Texas National Guard, then returned to El Paso in the 1990's where he was elected to El Paso County Constable for Precinct #2. During his years of public service and well after retirement, he maintained a vibrant musical career playing steel guitar with the El Paso Sundowners and the El Paso Cowboy Gospel Band. In the 1960's he used his war experience as a radio operator to get on the staff of WAHY FM radio in New York and, after moving to El Paso, became a newsman for KINT and KHEY radio stations. He was also a prolific songwriter and lifelong poet with over 3,000 copyrighted compositions to his credit, counting Willie Nelson and Hank Williams Sr. among the artists who have purchased and recorded at least three of his songs. He is survived by his wife of 17 years, Doris. Graveside services will be held Wednesday, June 20, at 10am at Fort Bliss National Cemetery, West Shelter, with Military Honors. Published in El Paso Times on June 18, 2018
