Edwin Whitaker

Arden-Edwin Monroe Whitaker, Born August 18, 1928 in Canton, NC, died May 11, 2003, at St. Joseph's Hospital after a lengthy illness.

He was a native of Haywood County, a son of the late Otis M. and Ella Mae Gillespie Whitaker. He was preceded in death by a brother Leo Whitaker; two sisters, Vera Ledford and Nellie Royal; his stepmother Catherine Harper Whitaker, a niece Donna Morgan and a great-nephew Mark Ledford.

Mr. Whitaker was retired from the United States Air Force as a Senior Air Traffic Controller. He also served in the United States Navy aboard the USS Brush, DD745. He was also the retired owner/operator of Skyland Sanitary Pick-Up Service. He was a member of New Morgan Hill Baptist Church and the Hominy Valley VFW Post 9939. He was a member of the Air Force Sargeant's Association.

He is survived by his wife of 55 years, Josephine Frady Whitaker of the home; one sister, Jane Morgan and her husband Don of Albuquerque, New Mexico; four nephews, Bob Ledford and his wife Ann of Clyde; Bill Ledford of Hayesville; Bill Royal and his wife Vicki of Conyers, Georgia; Gary Royal and his wife Pamela of Stockbridge, Georgia; three sisters-in-law, Dee Heatherly of Hendersonville; Eula Gash of Horse Shoe; and Lorraine Norris of Rock Hill, South Carolina.

Visitation will be from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. Tuesday, May 13, 2003 at Wells Funeral Homes of Canton. At other times, family will be at the home, 186 Ball Gap Road, Arden, NC 28704.

The funeral service will be at 2:00 p.m. Wednesday, May 14, 2003 at New Morgan Hill Baptist Church with the Reverends Roy Houston and G. W. Jameson officiating.

Burial will be in Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Enka with military graveside rites conducted by Shaw Air Force Base.

In lieu of flowers, it is requested that memorials be made to the building fund of New Morgan Hill Baptist Church, 370 Lake Drive, Candler, NC. 28715.

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