Born Mar 3, 1872, Rosedale, Va., to the union of Jerome B. and Lucy Plaster Whited was a son, Elbert Patton Whited; he was the oldest of nine children.
After finishing free school in Russell Co., he lived with an Uncle, T. C. Whited, who was Clerk of Circuit Court of Logan Co., West Virginia. Here he completed his High School education and taught in Logan County for two years. He served as Deputy Clerk of Logan Co. for a period of six years. These positions furnished him with money for a college education in the medical profession, which had been his ambition since early childhood.
He entered the National Norman University in Lebanon, Ohio, where he completed two years of pre-medicine. He then entered the Medical College of Virginia, which was another step in the fulfillment of his dream.
Governor Henry C. Stewart, after checking young Whited's grades recommended him to Dr. George Ben Johnston, a professor at the Medical College of Virginia and a relative of Governor Stewart's. Dr. Johnston allowed him unreserved use of his home library which proved to be an asset to him throughout his college work.
At the end of three years he withdrew, securing a temporary license to practice and opened an office in Davenport, Buchannon County, Virginia and was graduated with honors in the class of 1903.
Twice he returned to his Alma Mater for post graduate courses; once in 1905 and again in 1916. Upon his graduation in 1903, citizens of Logan, West Virginia urged him to open an office there, but he chose to offer his talents to the people of his native Russell Co.
The year 1903 held another advancement for him, he was married to Ida Melissa Boyd of Honaker, Virginia. One girl and four boys were born to this union:
(1). Katheryn Whited,
(2). Guy B. Whited,
(3). Fay S. Whited,
(4). George Ben Whited,
(5). Robert J. Whited
In 1904, he engaged in private practice in Grundy, Virginia. After three years he became company doctor for W. M. Ritter Lumber Company in Hurley, Virginia. At the end of five years, poor health forced him to move to Swords Creek where he enjoyed quiet and rest for several years.
In 1917, an improvement in his health condition allowed him to open an office in Honaker, Virginia where he practiced until his death January 20, 1955.
Dr. Whited was a member of the Russell Co. Medical Assoc. of Virginia. He was amember of the Pruner Lodge 254 A.F. & A.M. in Honaker.
He served as surgeon for the Norfolk and Western Railroad over a period of thirty-five years. He was also a member of the Russell County Draft Board during World War I and World War II. At the time of his death, he was serving as Russell Co. Coroner.
During his life of Public service many honors and praises have come to him from those whom he has served throughout Russell County. One cherished honor was a certificate for the Medical Society of Virginia honoring him for fifty years service "devoted to the practice of medicine".
It can well be said this honor, and his many efforts made in reaching the ill in remote areas are labels of his devoted service to mankind. When pay was not the incentive, through the rain, sleet, snow, or sunshine, he managed to reach the bedside of the suffering; his presence offered immediate hope and contentment to each patient.
