Golburn Roy Whitaker of Knoxville passed away October 18, 2012 at Ben Atchley Veterans Home. Roy was born in Burnsville, MS to Golburn Roy & Alma King Whitaker on May 9, 1926. He moved to East Tennessee with his family in the 1950's. Roy served in World War II in Germany. He retired from ORNL as an Industrial Hygiene Technician. He also retired from the Tennessee National Guard.
He was preceded in death by his parents, his niece Marsha DePreist and his sisters, Brenda Greer Havard and Nella Ruth Sparks and brother, Bobby Greer.
He is survived by his wife of 65 years, June; daughter, Cherry (Alan) Zimmerman, Knoxville, TN; son Danny (Janice) Whitaker, Powell, TN; grandchildren, Zach (Angela) Whitaker, Clarksville, TN, Jessica (Sean) Wilder, Nolensville, TN; step-grandchildren, Sam Zimmerman, Reston, VA, Megan (Christian) Cole, Sterling, VA and Dan Zimmerman, Sterling, VA; great-grandchildren, Cooper and Lilly Whitaker; step-great-grandchildren, Caroline and Claire Cole; brothers, Ronnie (Betty) Greer, Greenville, AL; brothers-in-law, John Surratt, Counce, TN and Lee Surratt (Valerie) Surratt, Yuma, AZ; nieces, Rhonda (Milan) McGill, Birmingham, AL an Monica (Alan) Grams, Houston, TX; nephews, Ben Sparks (Patty), Nashville, TN, Bobby Greer, Jr., Mobile, AL, Craig (Debbie) Greer, Mobile, AL and several great nephews and nieces.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to HonorAir Knoxville, 7536 Taggart Lane, Knoxville, TN 37938 or Beaver Ridge United Methodist Church, 7753 Oak Ridge Hwy, Knoxville, TN 37931. The family would like to extend a special thanks to the staff at Ben Atchley Veterans Home.
The family will receive friends on Sunday, October 21, 2012 from 5-7pm at the Holley-Gamble Funeral Home.`
Family & friends will meet Monday, October 22nd at 11:00am at Woodhaven Memorial Gardens in Claxton for graveside services with Rev. Catherine Nance officiating. Holley-Gamble Funeral Home in Clinton is in charge of the arrangements. www.holleygamblefh.com.