"WHITTAKER OBITUARIES"

Some of these obituaries were hard to come by, so getting them, I thought maybe I would share the information that is in them. Besides the information that comes in so many of these older obituaries, the way they wrote in those days was just as interesting. I have typed it exactly as written, so please pardon the spellings and punctuation.

The many friends and acquaintances in Sycamore of Robert Whittaker, for years a well known resident of Cortland township, southwest of this city, were shocked to hear of his sudden death last Monday afternoon. He had been in DeKalb on business that afternoon, and soon after returning home the summons came, the result of a stroke of apoplexy.

Robert Whittaker was born in Lincolnshire, England, May 29, 1852, but spent his early manhood in Baldwin, Nottinghamshire, England. He was the youngest but one of a family of eleven children, ten boys and one girl. Four brothers, James, Charles, William, Matthew and the sister Mary survive him.

Robert Whittaker came to the United States in 1872. He was converted in 1877 and united with the Methodist Episcopal church of which he had ever since been a member.

In 1879 he was united in marriage to Carrie Elizabeth Love at the old Love homestead. They have always lived near Sycamore, and have spent the last thirty years on the Whittaker Farm southwest of Sycamore. He was the father of ten children: Cline Charles, Emmons Elias, Zara, Esther, Malinda, Vashti, Robert Jr., Alice and Allene, twins, and Colin Winterbourne. Three, Esther, Alice and Allene, died in infancy. The other children are at home, except Cline and Emmons, who live in Wichita, Kan.

Private funeral services were held at the home at 1 o'clock p.m. and at the Methodist church in DeKalb at 2 p.m. on Wednesday. The interment was in Fair View Cemetery, DeKalb. [October 12, 1912; Sycamore True Republican; Sycamore, IL]

The death of Mrs. Robert Whittaker, which occurred late Wednesday afternoon at the home of her son and daughter, came as a distinct shock to her many friends and members of her family. Mrs. Whittaker, while advanced in years, was active and took a keen interest in life.

Carrie E. Love, daughter of Frederick and Alice C. Love, was born February 22, 1859 in the township of Pampas, later changed to Cortland. Her people later moved to what is known as the Love farm on the DeKalb-Sycamore road. She united with the Congregational church in DeKalb at the age of 12 years and was their organist for several years.

On September 25, 1879 she was united in marriage to Robert Whittaker of Balderton, England. Mr. and Mrs. Whittaker made their home near DeKalb until April 1882, when they moved to the present Whittaker homestead southwest of Sycamore, where Mrs. Whittaker passed away, and where some of the family still reside. After her marriage Mrs. Whittaker united with the DeKalb Methodist church with her husband. She also served as organist there for a time. She loved her church and spent her life in service to those about her, both in and out of the home.

Mrs. Whittaker was an earnest worker in the W.C.T.U. throughout her entire lifetime. She served as county assistant secretary for some time. Was a favorite organist at W.C.T.U. conventions, where the noted Frances E. Willard of temperance fame, was the presiding officer.

Mr. and Mrs. Whittaker were the parents of 10 children, three of whom passed away in infancy. Mr. Whittaker died in October, 1912. Surviving the decedent are one brother, Fred C. Love, four sons, Charles of Eureka, Kans.; Emmons E., Pendleton, Ore.; Colin W., Washington D.C. and Robert, at home; three daughters, Zara of Spokane, Wash.; Mrs. Malinda Basse, of Wichita, Kans. and Miss Vashti at home. There are also surviving eight grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren.

Arrangements have been made for the funeral services, which will be accorded on Sunday afternoon at 2:30 o'clock at the Methodist church in DeKalb, with its pastor, the Rev. Allan Billman officiating. Interment will be in the DeKalb cemetery. [Nov. 5., 1943; Sycamore True Republican; Sycamore, IL]

The sincere sympathy of the community is extended to Robert Whittacre and sister, Miss Vashti and brothers and sisters in the passing of their mother, Mrs. Carrie Whittacre, who has been a much loved resident of this community for many years. On Wednesday afternoon she accompanied her son and daughter to DeKalb and upon returning, helped to carry groceries into the house. She sat down in a chair to rest and was found dead a few minutes later. She was in the late eightys in years and very active with a keen mind. She had an unusually sweet disposition and was greatly loved by all who knew her. She was a grand Christian lady and will be greatly missed.

Friends of Robert Whittaker, age 54, lifetime resident of Cortland Township, will be shocked to learn of his sudden death on Saturday evening about 9 o'clock at his farm home. He was in apparent good health when he was stricken Saturday night, passing away a few moments later.

Robert Whittaker was born September 26, 1890, at the farm home in Cortland Township where he resided during his entire lifetime. He was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Whittaker, members of one of the pioneer families of the community. He was active in the community life and had just been elected the school trustee of Cortland Township. He was a member of the Farm Bureau, president of the Mid-Winter Fair Club of Sycamore, a member of the DeKalb Discussion Group and was a close follower of world events and a friend to all who knew him.

Surviving are three brothers, Clive C. of Eureka, Kan., Emmons E. of Pendleton, Ore., and Colin W. of Washington D.C.; and three sisters, Miss Zara Whittaker of Spokane, Wash., Mrs. Charles (Malinda) Basse of Wichita, Kan. and Miss Vashti Whittaker, who made her home on the farm with Robert.

Funeral services will be held on Wednesday afternoon at 2 o'clock from the Wirtz Funeral Home with Rev. Allan Billman, pastor of the First Methodist Church of DeKalb, to be in charge. Burial will be in the Fairview Cemetery. Friends may call at the funeral home until the time of the service. [April 10, 1945; Sycamore True Republican; Sycamore, IL]

Miss Vashti Whittaker, who has resided her entire life time at the Maple Leaf Farm near Cortland, died suddenly last Wednesday noon at Eureka, Kan., where she had been visiting relatives for the past three weeks.

Miss Whittaker was born in Cortland Township November 5, 1888, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Whittaker. She was a member of the DeKalb Methodist church.

Surviving her demise are three brothers, C.C. Whittaker of Eureka, Kan., E.E. Whittaker of Cottage Grove, Oregon and Dr. Collin Whittaker of Washington D.C., also two sisters, Mrs. Charles Basse of Wichita, Kan., and Miss Zara Whittaker of Maple Leaf Farm, Cortland. Her parents preceded her in death and a brothers, Robert, died in 1945.

Funeral services were first conducted at Eureka, Kan., after which graveside services were held Friday afternoon at 4 o'clock in DeKalb at the Fairview Cemetery with the Rev. R. W. Lambert, pastor of the First Methodist church of that city officiating at the latter service. [Nov. 2, 1948; Sycamore True Republican; Sycamore, IL]

Malinda Basse (Mrs. R.L.) Stuart, who helped bring rual electrification to Sedwick County and helped organize the county League of Women Voters, died Monday. She was 89 and resided at 3700 Edgemont Place.

Mrs. Stuart lived in Wichita for 62 years.

In 1938 Mrs. Stuart (then Mrs. Charles Basse) returned to Wichita from visiting Illinois relatives, bringing with her knowledge that the federal government had supplied power to farmers there under the Rural Electrification Administration.

She helped organize the first meetings of farmers that, eventually, brought electric power to the county.

Services will be 2p.m. Wednesday at Downing East Mortuary, and burial will be in White Chapel Memorial Gardens.

She is survived by a foster daughter, Mrs. Robert Shirley of Wichita. [Jan. 18, 1977; The Witchita Eagle; Witchita, KA]

Clive Charles Whittaker, Jr., 85, of Eureka, died Wednesday, November 5, 1997, at his home in Eureka.

He was born January 8, 1912, in Wichita, the son of Clive Charles Sr., and Adaline (Wright) Whittaker. He was riased in Wichita and attended Wichita public schools, graduating from Wichita East High School. He then attended and graduated from Wichita University and also had received a degree from Chicago University. He received degrees in chemistry, mathematics and law. During his lifetime, he worked in the oil fields, was a teacher at Babson College in Eureka and was an attorney in private practice also in Eureka.

On September 4, 1943, he was united in marriage to Ella Louise Patteson in Wichita. They resided in Moline and in Tulsa, Okla., prior to moving to Eureka in 1950 to make their home.

He was a member of the Christian-Congregational Church of Eureka and held membership in Moline Masonic Lodge A.F. & A.M., Wichita Scottish Rite Bodies and Midian Shrine Temple in Wichita where he was a member of the Oriental Band for many years and a member of the Greenwood County Shrine Club.

Survivors include his wife, Louise of Eureka; four sons Clive Whittaker of Los Alamos, N.M., Dr. Robert Whittaker of Augusta, Dr. James "J.G." Whittaker of Sabetha and Michael Whittaker of Eureka; nine grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his first wife Betty Russell Whittaker, one brother and one sister.

A memorial service was held November 10 at the Greenwood Abbey with Revered Daniel Wilson, pastor of the Christian-Congregational Church of Eureka officiating. Inurnment was in the Greenwood Cemetery at Eureka.

A memorial has been established in his name with the Midian Shrine Plane of Mercy. Contributions may be sent in care of the Campbell-Kelley Funeral Home of Eureka which was in charge of service arrangements. [Nov. 13, 1997; Eureka Herald; Eureka, KA]

Edsel Emmons "Fiddlin' Ed" Whittaker, 60, died Wednesday in a Reno hospital.

A native of Eugene, Ore., he was born Aug. 9, 1926, and had been a Reno resident for the past 27 years.

Whittaker was a musician, playing with Charles Gould and the Satin Strings and several country and western bands in the Reno area.

Surviving are his widow, Christeen, stepson, Kenneth Whittaker, stepdaughter, Debra Smith, and a sister, Dorothy Quinn, all of Reno; daughters, Linda Clark and Susan Johnson, and a sister, Beatrice Buskirk, all of Oregon, and four grandchildren.

No funeral is scheduled.

Inurnment will be at the Mountain View Cemetery, under the direction of the O'Brien-Rogers and Crosby Funeral Home.

A memorial is being established with the Silk 'n' Saddle Scholarship Fund, P.O. Box 1594, Carson City 89702. [March 5, 1987; Reno Gazette/Journal; Reno, NV]

Evelyn Whittaker Keller, 55 died in a local hospital Tuesday.

She was born Oct. 26, 1910, at Kinsley, Kan. As a young girl she made her home in several states prior to coming to Oregon in 1918. She had lived in Eugene, Pendleton and Salem before coming to Corvallis early this year.

She is survived by her mother, Mrs. Grace M. Whittaker, two sons John of Scappoose, Robert of Medford; two daughters Mrs. Mary Sandberg of Bellflower, Calif., Mrs. Dale Johnson of Corvallis; one brother Ed Whittaker of Reno, three sisters, Mrs. Don Morberg of Roseburg, Mrs. Red Buskirk of Madras, Mrs. L.P. Quinn (formerly Dorothy O'Mara) of Reno and 11 grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held at the Grace Lutheran church Friday at 11 a.m. with Pastor P. Ivar Pihl officiating. Private concluding services will be held at the I.O.O.F. Cemetery. Anyone wishing to remember Mrs. Keller may send donations to the American Cancer Society, Oregon division, Room 200, Park Bldg.; 729 S.W. Alder St., Portland, or to the McHenry Funeral Home which is in charge of arrangements. [Sept 28 1966; Corvallis Gazette-Times; Corvallis, OR]

Home Page