Leslie Patricia Whitney

On Friday, June 7th, 2019, Leslie Patricia Whitney passed away peacefully surrounded by her family. She will be remembered for her warmth, her kindness, and her sweet smile. The friendliest face in any room, she made everyone she met feel at home. She loved fiercely, and, in turn, will remain uniquely as our beloved daughter, sister, wife, mother, aunt, grandmother, friend, and neighbor.

Leslie was born on November 15th, 1956, in Los Angeles, California to Patricia and Floyd Freeland. As older sister to Robert, she was equal parts playful and protective—a dynamic that stuck. Leslie grew up in Lakewood, California, and attended Lindstrom Elementary School, Roosevelt Junior High School and Mayfair High School, where she made treasured lifelong friends. Outside of school, Leslie enjoyed camping and waterskiing. She was a member of the Kips gymnastic team and even competed for a place in the Olympics. Over the years, she stayed close with her teammates, who recently all celebrated their 60th birthdays together.

On October 21st, 1978, Leslie married the love of her life, Don Whitney. They raised two beautiful daughters – Jennifer and Rachel – in a close-knit community of friends and neighbors in Lakewood, California. She was extremely proud of her girls, cherishing her relationships with them, and, later, her sons-in-law, Jeff and Rhys. She became a grandmother in 2011 and again in 2017, and adored her role as Nana to Jocelyn and Zack.

Leslie worked as the office manager for an orthodontic practice, and throughout her life she enjoyed the fun of a garage sale treasure hunt and spending time outdoors. She and Don explored California end to end in their motorhome, often with the rest of the family in tow. At her happiest, she could be found taking in sunsets and dipping her toes in the water—and encouraging others to do the same! Chula Vista and the Eastern Sierra were two of her favorite spots.

We will miss her terribly, but she will always be our “Brown Eyed Girl.” In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to metastatic breast cancer research in her memory.

Luyben Dilday Mortuary (562) 425-6401