Retired U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Roger C. Whiton, 70, of Collinsville, Ill., died Friday, Nov. 28, 2014, at Collinsville Rehab and Health Care Center, Collinsville, Ill.

Lt. Col. Whiton was born in Hartford, Conn., on May 29, 1944. He received a Bachelor of Science Degree in biology from Tufts University in 1966. He received his commission in the Regular Air Force from the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Program in 1966. Through the Air Force Institute of Technology, he received a Master of Science Degree in meteorology from Saint Louis University in 1977 and was awarded the Ph.D. in meteorology in 1978. Lt. Col. Whiton is a distinguished graduate of Squadron Officer School.

After completing basic meterology training at San Jose University in 1967, Lt. Col. Whiton served as a weather officer and chief forecaster for Air Training Command's undergraduate pilot training program at Moddy AFB, Ga. In 1969, Lt. Col. Whiton served as special projects officer with the 1st Weather Group, Saigon, Republic of Vietnam.

From 1970 to 1975, Lt. Col. Whiton served as radar operations officer at Headquarters AWS, where he led an upgrade of AWS's weather radar program, involving approximately 100 radar stations worldwide. Lt. Col. Whiton helped lay the groundwork for the Next Generation Weather Radar (NEXRAD).

After completing his graduate degree program in 1978, Lt. Col. Whiton was assigned as Chief of the Environmental Simulation Section, USAFETAC. There he and his team developed statistical computer models to generate synthetic weather observations and forecasts. The models were used for input to systems effectiveness and design tradeoff analyses for multi-million dollar national systems. In reccognition of this work, Lt. Col. Whiton and his team won AWS's Merewether Award.

In 1982, Lt. Col. Whiton was assigned to AFGWC as Chief of the Data Base management Branch. In that position, he spearheaded development and operational implementation of an $84 million interactive graphics and imagery system called the Satellite Data Handling System, a major breakthrough in weather forecasting technology.

In 1988, Lt. Col. Whiton was assigned to Headquarters AWS as Director of Aerospace Development and Assistant Deputy Chief of Staff for Aerospace Sciences. In that position, Lt. Col. Whiton was responsible for a program under which advanced laboratory technology in the atmospheric and space sciences was transitioned into operational use in the field.

From September 1990 until now, Lt. Col Roger C. Whiton was Chief of the Aerospace Sciences Branch at the U.S. Air force Environmental Technical Applications Center (USAFETAC), Scott AFB, Ill. He improved the way USAFETAC provided historical atmospheric and space environmental data and performed studies and analyses using that data in support of the Air Force, Army, Department of Defense, and other government agencies.

Lt. Col. Whiton's military decorations include the Bronze Star Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal, the Air Force Commendation Medal, and the Air Force Achievement Medal. He was promoted to lieutenant colonel on April 1, 1982, with the same date of rank.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Warren and Vanya, nee Ryden, Whiton.

Surviving are his wife, Dorothy "Dottie" Whiton, nee Zinn; two daughters, Lorrie (Ryan) Acton of Maryville, Ill., and Jennifer Parker of Chesterfield, Mo.; a brother, Brian Whiton of Granby, Conn.; four grandchildren, Tiffany and Lannah Parker, and Scott and Ethan Williams; a niece, Julie Malcolm; a nephew, Matthew Whiton; and two great-nieces and a great-nephew.

Memorials may be made to Huntington's Disease Society of America or the Hospice of Southern Illinois. Condolences may be expressed to the family online at www.herrfuneral.com

Visitation: Friends may call from 4 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2014, a Herr Funeral Home, Collinsville, Ill.

Funeral: Funeral service will be held at 11:30 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 4, 2014, at Herr Funeral home with Rev. Tony Minear officiating. Burial will be in Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery, St. Louis, Mo.