Orville Whitaker

Orville Raymond Whitaker, 88, of Fithian, formerly of Oakwood, passed away at 7:27 p.m. Wednesday, May 14, 2008 at VA Illiana Healthcare Systems in Danville. Orville was born on May 14, 1920 in Danville, the son of Charles Deward and Cecile (George) Whitaker. He married June E. Keerns on January 27, 1939 in Covington, Indiana. She preceded him in death on April 25, 2003 in Bradenton, Florida. He is survived by his daughter- Jamie (Larry) Sperry of Fithian; two grandchildren Delynn (Doug) Mast of Arthur, Illinois and Greg (Amanda) Sperry of Fithian; four great-grandchildren- Michael and Kaylin Dietrich of Arthur, Illinois and Reed and Quinn Sperry of Fithian. He was preceded in death by his parents, wife- June Whitaker, one brother- Virgil Whitaker and one sister- Maureen Melcher. Orville served in the United States Army from July 31, 1943 until March 24, 1946, serving during WWII as a military policeman. After the war he worked as a sheet metal worker at Lauhoff Grain in Danville for 22 years. He later moved to Bradenton, Florida and worked at Tropicana Products for 10 years working with sheet metal, until he retired in 1985. He was a member of Christ United Methodist Church in Bradenton, Florida. Orville and June loved taking vacations to Florida, camping and dancing to big band music. The family would like to extend a special thanks to the nurses and staff at the VA Nursing Home- Ward 8, social worker Cheryl Rome for their care and guidance, HBPC team at the VA-Mike Reed social worker, Linda Lindsay- Home Health Care visiting nurse and to Becky Wendell of Fithian, who cared for Orville at home for the past year. A Celebration of the Life of Orville Raymond Whitaker will be at 11:00 a.m. Monday, May 19, 2008 at Sunset Funeral Home and Cremation Center in Danville, with Pastor Adrian Lamkin officiating. Visitation will be from 10:00 " 11:00 a.m. Monday at the funeral home. Burial will be at Stearns Cemetery in Fithian following the service. Memorials may be made to the Alzheimers Association. E-mail condolences may be sent to the family at: www.sunsetfuneralhome.com.