G. Paul Willhite
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Memorial services for Glen Paul Willhite, 85, Lawrence, KS will be held at 11:00 a.m. Thursday, December 22, 2022, at Central United Methodist Church in Lawrence. Paul passed away on Thursday, December 15, 2022, at LMH Health.
Paul was born on July 18, 1937, in Waterloo, Iowa, the son of Glen Jesse and Arietta Delilah (Friedley) Willhite. He graduated from East Waterloo High School in 1955. In 1959 he graduated from Iowa State College with a bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering. He married Jewell Fox on May 31, 1959 in West Des Moines, Iowa and she survives at home. Paul received his Ph.D. in chemical engineering from Northwestern University in 1962.
Paul worked for Continental Oil Company in Ponca City, Oklahoma from 1962 to 1969. He was the scoutmaster for the Boy Scout troop at the American Legion Home. He also participated in Scouting in Lawrence and received the Silver Beaver Award.
In 1969 he joined the faculty of the University of Kansas. During his time at KU he authored two textbooks, co-chaired the Tertiary Oil Recovery Project and became a Distinguished Professor of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering. He retired after fifty years in 2019.
During his long career he received many honors including: Induction into the National Academy of Engineering in 2006; an Honorary Member of the Society of Petroleum Engineers; a member of the Iowa State University Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering Alumni Hall of Fame and many others.
Paul was an active member of Centenary United Methodist Church, where he served as a trustee. He was a member of a Habitat committee and was a volunteer tax preparer for senior citizens through AARP. He spent many years serving with the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology as part of accreditation visits to petroleum engineering departments at major universities around the world.
Other survivors include his children, Elizabeth (Phil) Wilhelm, Mark (Shanna) Willhite, Ben Willhite, Sara (Robert) Lasher, Rachel Lechtenberg, brother, Brian (Janis) Willhite, sister, Karen (Dick) Stahlhut, fourteen grandchildren, Coty, Katie, Maria, Alyssa, Jason, John, Mary, David, Emily, Shyanne, Linc, Erica, Finnigan, Ford and seven great-grandchildren. Paul was preceded in death by his parents.
The family suggests memorials in Paul’s name to the Lawrence Habitat for Humanity and may be sent in care of Warren-McElwain Mortuary, 120 W. 13th Street, Lawrence, KS 66044.
Our heartfelt condolences to Jewell and family. Paul is one of the architects of the Chemical and Petroleum Engineering department at the University of Kansas (KU) through his five decades of impactful contributions as an educator, researcher and leader. He chaired the Faculty Search Committee that recruited me to join KU. Paul has left a lasting legacy on his department, KU and the profession. Paul’s warmth, friendship and wisdom will be missed.
Dear Jewell,
I am so sorry to hear of Paul’s death. I have lost touch with the 2 of you since I have been unable to get out to attend events at the KU campus, but I have many good memories involving Paul and you. Since Oliver’s death I understand how it is to loose someone to whom you are close. I will be unable to attend the memorial service, but will be thinking of you.
Dear Ben,
I am so sorry for your loss. My deepest condolences to you and your family.
May God give you and your family strength through these difficult times.
Your father had a very accomplished life. Celebrate and cherish his memory.
Jewell,
You are in our thoughts and prayers as you and your family transition through this difficult time. Paul was always a pleasure to converse with and his laughter brought a smile to all who had the pleasure of knowing him. May the many happy memories and adventures bring smiles to your faces and laughter to your heart as you recall the wonderful legacy Paul leaves for so many.
Blessings,
Michelle (Lechtenberg) Mailand
Dear Jewell,
Please accept our deepest condolences for your family’s loss.
I have had the honor of being a student in Paul’s class, having him in my Ph.D. committee and later on working with him as his colleague. Paul was an excellent educator, a wonderful mentor and an amazingly supportive colleague. Paul was a true asset for both industry and academia. I also had the pleasure of working with him on a project that is still going on and our last meeting was just a few days before he was taken to the hospital. I always remember how much he enjoyed working on real-world and challenging problems, occasions when he could nicely provide us with what he called “moments of enlightenment”. Paul will be greatly missed by all of us.
Reza
Dear Jewell, I am so sorry to hear of Paul’s passing. I remember the good times we shared when we were young and part of the First Methodist Church group. You and Paul will always be a part of my life’s treasured memories. Please know that I grieve with you at this time of your great loss.
Jewel,
Such sad news. Paul has been a reliable resource in many directions. I am thankful to have seen and worked with him a few times this last year to keep up the fond memories. I hope to see you the next time I get to Lawrence. My condolences to you and family.
To the Willhite Family-
I was so sorry to hear of your loss. I had the honor of working with Dr. Willhite on several Society of Petroleum Engineers initiatives, including most recently this past summer during an education colloquium in Golden, CO. He was a wonderful person, brilliant engineer, and a phenomenal supporter of education. He will be greatly missed.
Jennifer Miskimins (Colorado School of Mines)
I will always remember Dr. Willhite as a mentor and friend.
Dear Willhite family – Please accept condolences on behalf of the University of Texas at Austin petroleum engineering department. Paul was very accomplished and held in high regard. I remember working with him 6 years ago, when he was a visitor for our ABET accreditation. He was the consummate professional. And I really enjoyed working with him on the recent SPE workshop on petroleum engineering education in Colorado. He was driven to serve our students and others. He was a very generous and self-less man who will continue to be a great role model for young engineers. I hope your memories bring you comfort as you mourn his loss. Blessings,
Jon Olson, Department Chair, UT Austin petroleum engineering
Very sorry to hear of Pauls passing. I was very lucky to have him as my advisor for my MS ChE degree; he was the best advisor I could have hoped for. He gave good guidance on my research, but did not micromanage. He was always very positive and encouraging. After my data was all gathered, I remember I spent several days trying to come up with the perfect outline. At that point, Dr Willhite gave me some excellent advice: “The important thing is to start. Just go home and start writing”. That did the trick, and I completed my 250 page thesis two months later, graduating with honors. He was good friends with Dr. Green and they collaborated on many projects. I send my condolences to his family for their loss.
Dr. Paul Willhite was my advisor during my time at KU.
I remember many times stopping by his office to vent about how much I hated physical chemistry, and complained about the fact I had to take it.
He would listen to my complaints, then calmly ask how my other classes were going, always helping me refocus on other areas.
You will be missed, Dr. Willhite! Your steady guidance helped me weather the storms as I worked towards my dream of becoming an engineer.
My condolences to the entire Willhite family. Dr. Willhite was my advisor some 25+ years ago for my BS ChE degree and I will always remember him for his practical, caring, and wise advise – he was an important and impactful teacher and mentor for so many students like me in the engineering program!
Dear Jewell,
Sorry to hear of your loss. Dr. Paul Willhite is not only a shining scholar but also a respectable educator. When I was his teaching assistant for the lab class, I was impressed by his academic attitude, patience, and humor in guiding students’ experiments. As a professor, he pushed forward the knowledge boundary for EOR field; as a teacher, he taught each student how to think critically and be a problem-solver; most importantly, as an individual, he is full of wisdom and passion for life which has inspired many young talents. He will be remembered forever.
I remember Dr. Willhite with great fondness during my years at KU pursuing a Petroleum Engineering degree. He was an effective, memorable and above all caring professor, always checking in with his students to make sure they are doing well. The field of tertiary recovery has lost a pioneering leader and we will forever miss his wisdom and his passion for teaching.
Shaina and I wanted to communicate our sincerest condolences to the Willhite family. I can say without any doubt he made this world a better place based on the level of impact he had on his students. My dad and I both had Dr. Willhite as a professor and continue to share many fond memories. One of Dr. Willhite’s strongest talents was helping students realize a level of potential that the students may have not realized that he or she possessed. Having such a distinguished and extraordinary educator believe in one’s potential is empowering to a struggling student. I am grateful to have crossed paths with such a great man.
Sorry to hear of Paul’s passing. He was a great guy and I knew him both while working in the Engineering School and attending Centenary. May the God Lord wrap his arms around you, Jewell and family, as you walk this path.