In Memory Of
Betty Whitaker
Betty Whitaker
Betty Jeanne Whitaker, 78, Lake Wabaunsee, passed away on Wednesday, December 6, 2006, at a Topeka hospital.
Betty was born April 7, 1928 in Ogden, the daughter of Frank and Alice (Karschner) Kern. She was the youngest daughter of nine children.
She married Jesse Whitaker on April 19, 1945 in Oklahoma. They lived in Texas briefly and spent the remainder of their married life in Topeka before retiring to Lake Wabaunsee in 1982.
Betty worked alongside the German prisoners in Topeka during World War II servicing military equipment. Later, she was a bookkeeper for Whitaker Construction Company for 34 years.
She enjoyed gardening, crafts, crocheting, fishing, puzzles, playing cards and many other games. She was on a bowling league for several years. She enjoyed traveling with her husband and had visited 42 states and some several times.
Betty was a member of the Highland Park United Methodist Church.
Survivors include her husband Jesse of 61 years; daughters, Diana Donald and husband, Rod, Topeka, Carol Mattingly and husband, Keith, Lexington Park, MD, Joretta Elrod and husband, Donovan, Andover; son, Ron Whitaker and wife, Sheri, Carbondale; 10 grandchildren and 5 great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents, 5 brothers and 3 sisters.
Graveside services will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Monday, December 11, 2006 at West Lawn Memorial Gardens, I-70 & Auburn Road, Topeka. Betty will lie in state at Penwell-Gabel Mid Town Chapel after 1:00 p.m. on Sunday and family will receive friends from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m.
Memorial contributions may be made to the American Heart Association, PO Box 1653, Topeka, Kansas 66601-1653.
To leave a special message for the family online, please visit www.PenwellGabel.com
Betty was born April 7, 1928 in Ogden, the daughter of Frank and Alice (Karschner) Kern. She was the youngest daughter of nine children.
She married Jesse Whitaker on April 19, 1945 in Oklahoma. They lived in Texas briefly and spent the remainder of their married life in Topeka before retiring to Lake Wabaunsee in 1982.
Betty worked alongside the German prisoners in Topeka during World War II servicing military equipment. Later, she was a bookkeeper for Whitaker Construction Company for 34 years.
She enjoyed gardening, crafts, crocheting, fishing, puzzles, playing cards and many other games. She was on a bowling league for several years. She enjoyed traveling with her husband and had visited 42 states and some several times.
Betty was a member of the Highland Park United Methodist Church.
Survivors include her husband Jesse of 61 years; daughters, Diana Donald and husband, Rod, Topeka, Carol Mattingly and husband, Keith, Lexington Park, MD, Joretta Elrod and husband, Donovan, Andover; son, Ron Whitaker and wife, Sheri, Carbondale; 10 grandchildren and 5 great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents, 5 brothers and 3 sisters.
Graveside services will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Monday, December 11, 2006 at West Lawn Memorial Gardens, I-70 & Auburn Road, Topeka. Betty will lie in state at Penwell-Gabel Mid Town Chapel after 1:00 p.m. on Sunday and family will receive friends from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m.
Memorial contributions may be made to the American Heart Association, PO Box 1653, Topeka, Kansas 66601-1653.
To leave a special message for the family online, please visit www.PenwellGabel.com
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Betty Whitaker, please visit our flower store.
Service Schedule
Past Services
Visitation
Sunday, December 10, 2006
4:00 - 6:00 pm (Central time)
Penwell-Gabel - Mid-Town Chapel
Guestbook
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