Charles Leonard Whiton

Charles Leonard Whiton of Big Horn, a rancher, public servant, and a man who never met a sport he wouldn’t try at least once, passed away at home recently at the age of 79.

Born December 26, 1945, in New York City to Herman and Emelyn Whiton, Charley graduated from the Brooks School in North Andover, MA, before trading skyscrapers for the wide-open spaces of the West. Marrying Penny in 1967, he then spent his life as a dedicated rancher across Wyoming and Montana, proving a kid from the city could handle a horse and a herd with the best of them.

While he served on local boards and in government, Charley was most at home outdoors. A passionate sportsman, he spent countless hours fishing local waters and hunting with a revolving cast of his “glorious” dogs. While technically bird dogs, the hunting was likely just an excuse; they were his best friends and, as he often joked to his children, essentially their siblings. He will eventually be reunited with his four-legged “kids” in the same spot their ashes were scattered before him.

Charley was a man of many seasons. In his later years, he discovered a new passion in the pickleball community—a way to stay fit that evolved into a group of lifelong friends. Perhaps his greatest sporting legacy was at the ice rink; Charley was a driving force behind the fundraising that transformed the M&M’s Center into the facility it is today. An enthusiastic player easily spotted in his “Geezer” jersey, he also frequently drove across Wyoming to cheer at his grandkids’ hockey games. He greeted friends and strangers alike with his favorite question: “Any tales of derring-do?”

He is survived by his wife, Edith “Penny” Whiton; his son, Charles “Chip” (Kristi) of Seattle; his daughter, Emelyn Pimentel (Troy) of Powell; and four grandchildren, Hattie, Rhett, Wyatt, and Madeline. He is also survived by his siblings Emelyn Patterson, Romalda Clark, and Herman Whiton Jr., aka “Worms Inc.”

The family offers their sincere thanks to Louisa Crosby, AGACNP, whose compassionate care and support were a great source of strength for Charley and his family.

Charley loved his family and the many communities he called home—from the rink and the pickleball courts to the hunting fields and the town of Sheridan. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Whitney Rink in the M&M’s Center, 475 E Brundage St, Sheridan, WY 82801.

A Memorial Service will be held in the spring of 2026. Online condolences may be made to www.sheridanfuneral.com. Arrangements are under the care of Sheridan Funeral Home.