Whetstone, Perry P.

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Updated: 15 Nov 2014
Created: 15 Nov 2014

Oklahoman Archives
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma County, Oklahoma
February 22, 2009, p 3

P Whetstone, Head of Grocery Firm, Dies at 62--

Perry P Whetstone, 3127 N 20, president of Collins-Dietz Morris, pioneer grocery firm here, died late Friday night after a brief illness. He was 62.

Whetstone, acting president of the grocery company for the past two years, was elected president of the firm after the death of Oscar Dietz in January. He had been with the firm since 1909, starting as an office boy and file clerk. During the 42 years he served with the company, he worked up through every department.

Native of Texas
Born in Childress TX, he came to OKC with his parents, the late Mr and Mrs Thomas A Whetstone in 1892 and worked during the summer in his father's grocery store at NW .. and Broadway. His first steady job with the old firm McCord-Collins Co turned out to be a permanent one. A year after he was hired, the firm was reorganized to include Dietz and Tunstall Morris.

He became known as one of the most successful buyers in the southwest and was credited with much of the company's success. He later was made vice president of the organization.

His Acreage Developed
An acreage near Edmond was Whetstone's great interest during most of his life. He bought 120 acres of remote prairie land as a young man and saw oil fields encompass it and a housing development reach within a mile of the property. On the land he raised cattle, kept horses, and planted hundreds of trees and shurbs.

When World War II brought a food scarcity, Whetstone asked his friends to garden on the land, with the stipulation that all vegetables be eaten or canned for future use.

Active Civic Worker
He was an active civic worker and a member of Siloam lodge of the Masons, Oklahoma City Golf and Country Club, and Beacon Club. An avid hunter and outstanding marksman, he was one of the founders of Capitol City Gun Club. He was a member of St Luke's Methodist Church.

He is survived by his wife, Mrs Juanita Whetstone, of the home; a step-daughter, Mrs Ruth D Phillips, of the home; two brothers, T A Whetstone, Rte 3, Edmond, and Baird H Whetstone, 4216 NW 20; three sisters, Mrs O K Morell, 939 NE 17; Mrs Harvey P Everest, NE 63 and Edmond Rd; and Mrs Van R Wiggins, 2744 NW 22.

Services are pending at Hahn-Cook Funeral Home.
Burial: Rose Hill Burial Park Oklahoma City

... Contributed by Marti Graham, Transcriber, . Information posted as courtesy to researchers.