Obituary of Robert Whitaker

Services for Robert L. Whitaker, 81, Arp, are scheduled for 1:00 p.m., Friday, March 18, at Lake Tyler Baptist Church in Chapel Hill with Reverend Sherman Mayfield and Reverend Doctor Ron Klingsick officiating. Burial will follow at Williams Cemetery under direction of Cottle-Pearson Funeral Home. Robert L. Whitaker left this earth for his Home in Heaven on March 16, 2011. Robert was born January 7, 1930 in Jacksonville to Berlon and Gladys Whitaker. He graduated from Tyler High School. The majority of his work was his partnership with his brother, Glynn, in owning and operating Whitaker's Food Store from 1959 to 1994. After retiring from the store, Robert worked at Arp State Bank. He married Bonnie Swope on June 17, 1950 and was blessed in that marriage of 56 years. Robert was a member of the Arp Emmanuel Baptist Church until 4 years ago, at which time he became a member and a Deacon of Lake Tyler Baptist Church.  Robert is preceded in death by his wife, Bonnie Whitaker, his mom and dad, Berlon and Gladys Whitaker, his brothers, Junior Whitaker, Jerry Whitaker and Johnny Whitaker, and twin grandsons, William and Andrew Whitaker. Survivors include his wife of 3 years and 8 months, Mary Kellis Whitaker of Arp; his son, David Whitaker of California; his daughters and sons-in-law, Dianna and Randy Starks of Flint, and Teresa and Mike Nelson of Chapel Hill;  stepchildren and their spouses, Elizabeth and Butch Bush, Brenda Stewart, Dixie and Mike Borque, and Junior and Lanita Kellis; brothers and sisters-in-law, Glynn and Margaret Whitaker, and Wayne and Judy Whitaker; sisters and brothers-in-law, Maxine Miles, Carolyn and Jerry Moss, and Barbara and Duncan Cavanaugh; 14 grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews. Pallbearers will be Robert Starks, Gary Starks, Cody Whitaker, Larry Whitaker, Tony Whitaker, Johnny Stapleton, Dallas Coon, and Riley Harris. The family wishes to thank Dr. Royal Becker and 4th floor nurses of Trinity Mother Frances Hospital and nurses and Doctors of Hospice of East Texas for the wonderful care and compassion shown to our loved one.  The family will receive friends at the funeral home from 6:00 pm until 8:00 pm, Thursday, March 17. Robert has requested in lieu of flowers, please make donations to Lake Tyler Baptist Church Building Fund. 13230 CR 285, Tyler, TX 75707 or Hospice of East Texas, 4111 UniversityBlvd., Tyler, TX 75701.