William R. Whitaker

William Robert “Bob” Whitaker, age 83, was born in Hooper’s Creek, Henderson County, North Carolina on April 2, 1935, to Samuel Jep Whitaker and Deloris Dalton. Bob worked at the local airport to earn flight time for his private pilot license, soloing at 16. He graduated from Christ Academy at the age of 17 and enlisted in the U.S. Army. Mr. Whitaker served his country for 3 years, including a posting in Okinawa. Bob began his career with the FAA in Memphis, Tennessee as an air traffic controller, transferring to the FAA center in Hampton, Georgia, in 1964. He was promoted to Senior Traffic Controller in charge of training new employees. Mr. Whitaker earned his Airframe & Power Plant license in 1976. His favorite pastimes were being around aircraft and spending time at the lake.

Bob is preceded in death by his parents, S.J. Whitaker and Deloris Dalton; son, William David Whitaker; brother, John Christy; sister, Martha Johnson. He is survived by his wife, Shirley M. Whitaker; daughter, Terri Shurley and husband Rick; grandchildren, Bailey Shurley, William J. Whitaker; brothers-in-law, Gary Isbell and wife Zalea, Doug Isbell and wife Ann; nieces and nephews, Kelly Buchannan and husband Jeff, Christy Mack and husband David, Chris Wilkerson and wife Tami, Heather Star and husband Mark, Richard and Susan Isbell, Spencer Wilkerson.
 
A visitation for Bob Whitaker will be Saturday, May 19, 2018 from 2:00 pm until 4:00 pm at Conner-Westbury Funeral Home. Following the visitation, a funeral service will be conducted in the Chapel. Reverend Andrew Covington will officiate. Interment will follow in Westwood Gardens.
 

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