James Ted Whitehead

Ted was born June 12th, 1932 in Dividend Utah, it was like Bingham a small mining town that is now gone. It was near Eureka Utah, He was born in his Grandma & Grandpa' Calton's home. He lived there on and off over the years until he married Pat. The Calton's were more like a 2nd mother and father to him. He loved and cherished them as they did him.
His mother Phyllis divorced his father Charles Weitzeil; She then started dating a childhood friend James R Whitehead, whom she later married. He traveled a great deal so Phyllis went with him a great deal. Ted was left with the Calton's during these times. Ted's name at birth was "Teddy Joe Weitzeil" which he later had changed while in the Army during the Korean war to what it is now "James Ted Whitehead".
His mother later divorced James R Whitehead. Two months after Ted and Pat were married, Phyllis married her "True Love and Best Friend" George Axle Rhoades who was from Bingham Utah. George was a prospector and Miner, our entire family called George "Pa". George was never married before and we all became his family as he loved us all very dearly. George passed away in 1967 and Phyllis in 1982 a month after her 2nd "Great Grandchild" was born.
Ted lived most of his life in Utah, with time spent in Washington state and Southern California while he was growing up. Ted worked in many fields over his life with the most experience in steel. He was a welder then "Quality Control", then finally a "Non-Destructive Tester" to include X-Ray etc... Ted spent from 1962 to 1967 in Northern California around Pats family. It was during this time that he grew fond of Pats family enjoying time spent with them. Pat's family consists of mother Zella, father Vito Catanzariti, brothers Danny & Cardon Sullivan, younger brothers Carey & Randy Catanzariti. Zella has since passed on the rest remain even "Dad" (Vito) who loved Ted as his own, being a great Father in law to Ted.
Danny is married to Marcella with their kids: Jenny, Danny, Paulina & Veronica. Who loved Ted. Cardon and Bobbie loved him as a friend and brother in law. Both Randy & Karen' family with their kids Shauna, Corrine & Lisa loved Ted. Also Carey & Linda with their kids Tracy, Chris & Brandon loved Ted. Ted loved them as well as they were dear to him. Zella and Ted got along well and loved each other until she passed on 1987.
In the 90's we received a phone call from Charlene Weitzeil, of whom after about 30 years of searching found Ted her long lost big brother. He never knew if he had any siblings from George Weitzeil but wondered about this over the years. Charlene had managed to find out that she did have a sibling and searched to find Ted, never giving up until she succeeded.
We've learned a great deal about her family and her about ours over the past 10 plus years. Ted loved his sister and 2 nieces having grown fond of them over the years. She became a welcome member of our family, who was always there. She helped us a great deal during Ted's final months and even prior. Thru Charlene we found out a great deal about George Weitzeil's side of the family.
Ted had 2 cousins he grew up with Erma Dean and Harold, they were so close that Ted thought of them as brother and sister. As well as Erma Dean' Husband Stan (Stanley).
Ted had five sons that he loved, enjoying time spent with each of them. He spent time shaving with them, fishing, skating, bowling, swimming and hiking. He tried to show them the world as a whole, Canyon lands and National parks he shared with his family. He would watch television with the kids and read to them, the Hobbit series was one of their favorites. Ted loved to bowl having shot at least one 300 game, during school he lettered in Tennis and swimming. He loved Golfing and taught skating having been an accomplished fancy Roller skater. Including a time where he was a judge at a national Roller Skating championship. He spent a time teaching the handicapped to bowl (deaf, dumb & blind) enjoying his time doing this. Ted enjoyed teaching and helping people. Ted played Clarinet in the band in grade school, Jr. High and High School. He went to the Rose Bowl Parade with the band one year as well . He played also the Trumpet, Sax, Drums and the piano a little. When Pat met Ted he would play his Harmonica and ukalali, at times serenading her. Pat loved the time he would sing to her as he had a good voice. Ted had many friends being liked by all he met. He loved to read books even during the last years of his life reading 2 or 3 novels a week, Ted loved crosswords as well. Ted loved driving so much that Pat kept telling him he should have been a truck driver as this appeared to be his calling.
Ted was the type who would never quit going he wanted to be moving at all times. Ted finally learned how to dance at around age 50, taking Pat dancing a lot (if Ted would have had his way he would have been dancing each week from then on). Ted loved dancing once he learned it.
He was and still is the best thing in Pat's life.
Ted and Pat brought home their Granddaughter Michele and her newly born daughter Elaine home. Elaine has been in their lives ever since spending a great deal of time with them. Ted once said she was his "Lil Angel" asking is this how little girls are to Pat. Ted and Pat would take Elaine many places with them cherishing her more each day. Elaine in many ways was the Daughter they never had. They would spend time watching movies and listening to music together, sing songs and other things. Many people wonder why it is that Elaine likes old music and shows to this day, we know the answer to that one. Ted grew so close to Elaine that at times near the end that Ted would only react to her presence as she made his day and gave him reason to smile to the end.
Ted is loved and missed very much. There will never be another that can replace our Ted, Dad, Brother, Grandpa and friend. Ted was always going places to help family until his stroke. He would even do what he could to make others happy or cheer them up.
None of his surviving family will ever forget him at his best because there was so little when he was less then this.
Ted is survived by:
Wife: Pat Father in Law: Vito Catanzariti Brother in Laws: Danny, Cardon, Carey & Randy Sister in Laws: Linda, Karen, Bobby, Marcella Sister from George Weitzeil: Charlene Cousins (Brothers and Sister in his heart): Harold, Stanley with wife Erma Dean Children: Don, Todd, James, Stephen & Edward Daughter in Laws (Current): Kateel, Veronica Daughter in Laws (Past): Judy, Tammy, Holly Grandchildren: Travis, Michele, Hope, Brigette, Donald (Jr.), Dominic, Anthony, Devin, Shauna, Matthew, Monique, Ryan & Sarah Great Grandchildren: Elaine, Setiva, Zoey, Faith, Natalia, Darrel, Soon to be born: Colin
Those Great Grandchildren that met him will never forget him. The others will never know Ted as we do.

Ted lost a piece of himself when his Grandchild James passed of Lymphoma in Sept of 2005.
We acknowledge that Ted watches over us even now as this was what he did best.
Ted enjoyed time with his friends Dancing, Bowling, Dinner etc... He will always cherish the time spent with them as he enjoyed and could look back on these times with a smile. They all became part of his family in his heart and soul, loving each of them.
Additional information can be found at: www.geocities.com/donwhiteh/index.html