Body Of Spokane Man Found By Hikers Valley School Custodian Had Been Missing For A Week

The body of a missing Spokane Valley man long treated for manic depression was found by two hikers near Summerland, British Columbia.

William Eugene Whinnen, 49, of Greenacres, was discovered Sunday, said Sgt. Orv Robson of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.

He apparently died of hypothermia.

Whinnen registered at a Summerland motel March 11, then went for a walk. Summerland is about 175 miles northwest of Spokane.

He apparently was disoriented when he walked into the rugged forest area near Summerland, Robson said Monday.

Whinnen told the motel owner he was only planning to stay the night, but after registering, they never saw him again.

Whinnen, a custodian for the Central Valley School District since 1985, had been treated for depression, his three daughters said Tuesday.

“It was something he had struggled with for a long time,” said one daughter, Jennifer Whinnen.

His doctors recently changed his medication, which aggravated symptoms of the disease, relatives said.

He was unable to sleep, and about a week ago went for a drive and never returned, his daughters said.

“He wasn’t just some crazy man,” daughter Heather Whinnen said. “He was a great father who had a disease.”

Julius Presta, personnel director for the Central Valley School District in Spokane, said Whinnen was a good employee who took sick leave from his job at Greenacres Elementary School some time ago.

Presta, who had known Whinnen for nearly 10 years, described him as a “wonderful man, really a neat guy.”

“I’m struggling with this,” Presta said. “I know I have to post his job, but it’s difficult.

A memorial service has been scheduled for Friday at 4 p.m. at the Heritage Funeral Home and Crematory, 508 N. Government Way.

, DataTimes