Joseph "Joe" Whitaker's Obituary
Joseph T. "Joe" Whitaker was born on May 27, 1935, in Chicago, IL to Ansley and Dorcas Whitaker. He was the youngest of three children. His older siblings Robert and Delores and his parents have passed away. He grew up in Ardmore, Indiana, an unincorporated area of South Bend. His parents divorced and his mother, Dorcas later married Wayne Deeds of Cutler, IN. Joe's sister, Kathy, was born to his mother and stepfather in 1948. He was no longer the baby in the family but loved having a little sister. Joe was very close to his sister, Delores. She was a guardian angel and helped him, out of many childhood scrapes.
Joe completed elementary school in Ardmore, IN and graduated from South Bend Central High School in 1953. After high school, he worked for the A&P Food Stores, as a department manager. His brother Robert was instrumental in his joining the USAF as an Aviation Cadet in 1955. Two years later, Joe received his Pilot's Wings and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in 1957. His career was very diverse which included flying supersonic jet fighters, training aircraft, observation aircraft, helicopters, and even bush planes. In 1975, heart problems ended Joe's flying career in the Air Force. He retired as a Major in 1976.
Joe subsequently, entered a 40-year real estate career, in sales and managing offices. He was instrumental in training many realtors throughout Texas and Oklahoma. He developed and taught courses for his sponsoring brokers, cooperating brokers, local colleges, Tulsa Tech, The Oklahoma Real Estate Commission and for National Real Estate corporations.
On March 13, 2025, Joe slipped the surly bonds of earth to touch the face of God.
Joe is survived by his beloved, wife, Deborah of 32 years, his sister Kathy, son Tim, daughter Lisa and her husband Walt.
Joe is also survived by Deborah's children, Knox, Grant, Brie and Kathy and grandchildren, Clayton, Hailey, Riley, Olivia, Joseph, Kadence, Peyton, Rhett, Avery and a host of other beloved family and friends.
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