Trevor Whetsel

Trevor Whetsel, age 86, of Lapel, died on November 10, 2008, at Harbour Manor in Noblesville.
Trevor was born on January 13, 1922, in Lapel the son of Guy and Blanche Whetsel. His wife of 66 years, Emma Jean Whetsel, survives him. He was preceded in death by his parents and by his brother, Emmett Whetsel. Emmett was killed in WWII in 1943 at Kasserine Pass in North Africa.
He worked at the Lapel Cannery in the late 1930s while he was in high school. He was a starter and captain for the Lapel basketball team which made it to the final four in 1940. Indiana University coach Branch McC racken invited Trevor to play on his basketball team which he did that next fall, but he soon decided that he wanted to pursue something different.
Trevor joined the U. S. Army in October 1942, and quickly became an airplane armorer serving in the Asiatic Pacific Theater of Operations with the 530th Fighter Squadron. He directed and assisted in the inspection, repair, and maintenance of 50-caliber machine guns on twenty P-47 fighters. Trevor received his honorable discharge in March of 1946.
He went to work for General Motors Corporation in Anderson and became an engineer there for the former Guide Lamp Division, and retired in 1977.
Trevor attended Ford Street United Methodist Church; and was a member of Lapel American Legion Post 212. His major non-sports hobby was collecting, selling, and trading railroad memorabilia. He had an extensive collection of railroad lanterns and locks. He was also an active fundraiser for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation
He is survived by his wife of 66 years, Emma Jean (Rich) Whetsel; two children, Pam (husband, Robert) Crozier of Noblesville, and Tom (wife, Carol) Whetsel of Pendleton; three granddaughters, Brigette (husband, Tony) Mauck of Anderson, Heather (husband, Shawn) O'Connor of Louisville, KY, and Holly (husband, Chris) Elliott of Fishers; four great-grandsons, Kalib and Kolby Mauck, and Killian and Keegan O'Connor; two step-grandchildren, Rolf (wife, Ann) Crozier of Indianapolis, and Sally (husband, Vince) Howard of Athens, IL; four step-great-grandchildren, Maddy and Adam Crozier, and Matthew and Michael Howard; two sisters, Jackie (husband, Jack) Howell, and Patty Corn both of Lapel; and four nephews, Kevin (wife, Renee) Brattain, and Jimmie (wife, Angie) Howell both of Lapel, Jon (wife, Penny) Howell of Alexandria, and Ron (wife, Laurie) Howell of Muncie.
Funeral service will be held at 10:30 am Friday, November 14, 2008, at Scott E. Hersberger Funeral Home in Lapel with Shawn O'Connor officiating. Burial will follow in Brookside Cemetery, Lapel where the Lapel American Legion Post will conduct military graveside rites.
Visitation will be from 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm and 6:00 to 8:00 pm Thursday, November 13, 2008, at Scott E. Hersberger Funeral Home, 1010 North Main Street, Lapel.
The family would like to thank Saint Johns Hospice for all the care they gave.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, 1261 East 86th Street, Suite E2 Indianapolis, Indiana 46260.

.