Jessie Whitaker, 82, of 203 N. Jefferson St., Silver Lake, went to be with the Lord at 8:40 a.m. Jan. 12, 2012, in his residence, surrounded by his family.
He was born March 5, 1929, in Prestonsburg, Ky., to the Rev. Willie and Brosie Sloan Whitaker. On July 3, 1948, he married Sadie Shepherd, who died in February 2009. On Feb. 13, 1971, he married Mary Genevive Jackson, who died Feb. 12, 2002.
He worked for the Norfolk Southern Railroad for 22 years and retired from Zimmer Inc., Warsaw, after 21 years. He was a longtime member of Silver Lake Gospel Hill Church.
He will be lovingly remembered by five daughters: Pauline (and spouse Leonard) Blankenship, Silver Lake; Deloris (and spouse the Rev. Ervin) Bradley, Hamlet; Lorene (and spouse Jeff) Moore and Geraldine Slaymaker, both of Warsaw; and Mary Coning, North Manchester; a daughter-in-law, Pat Whitaker, Warsaw; four sons: Pastor William (and spouse Lora) Whitaker and Jerry Whitaker, all Warsaw; J.B. (and spouse Cindy) Whitaker, North Manchester; and Pastor Frank (and spouse Lisa) Whitaker, Akron; two stepdaughters, Brenda Grubbs and Pat (and spouse Dallas) Owens, all of Warsaw; a stepson, Stan (and spouse Dana) Newingham, Evansville; 41 grandchildren; 86 great-grandchildren; five great-great-grandchildren; and three sisters: Oralee Shepherd, Claypool; Zora Sparks, Warsaw; and Nora Irwin, Wildwood, Fla. He also was preceded in death by his parents and two sons, Jesse Duane Whitaker, at the age of 8, and Pastor Wilbur Whitaker in 2005.
Services will be at 10 a.m. Monday at Silver Lake Gospel Hill Church, 303 S. Jefferson St., officiated by Pastors Frank and William Whitaker, Bishop Thomas Branham and the Rev. Jess Gideon. Burial will be in Lake View Cemetery, Silver Lake.
Calling is from 2 to 8 p.m. Sunday at the church.
Redpath-Fruth Funeral Home, 225 Argonne Road, Warsaw, is in charge of arrangements. ***** Memorials may be made to the Kosciusko Home Care & Hospice, P.O. Box 1196, Warsaw, IN 46581-1196, and would be appreciated by his family.
Condolences may be sent via www.redpathfruthfuneralhome.com
