John Merwyn Whitaker passed away April 17, 2024, surrounded by his family. He was born on April 7, 1938, in McIntyre, Georgia to John Isaac and Lois Ussery Whitaker.
He attended Wilkinson County High School and graduated from Berry College with a degree in Physics in 1961. He attended graduate School at the University of Alabama in 1961/62. He was employed by the Army Missile Command working in Research and Development and later on projects including the Army Tacms/Bat program. He had many performance awards and was inducted into the Honorable Order of Saint Barbara in 1998.
John was a Baptist and supported his childhood church. He enjoyed archery, golf, farming, family history, bass fishing on Guntersville Lake, and deeply loved his grandsons.
He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Ann Fite Whitaker; daughter, Leann Scheiman (John); grandsons, James Fite Scheiman and John Whitaker Scheiman; sisters, Joy Howell (Wendall) of Macon GA, Wanda Fitzgerald (Scott) of Macon GA, and Diana Howell (Kenneth) of Albany GA; and four nephews and one niece. John was a Baptist and supported his childhood church. He enjoyed archery, golf, farming, family history, bass fishing on Guntersville Lake, and deeply loved his grandsons.
Visitation will be from 10 to 11 a.m. Tuesday, April 23, 2024, at Laughlin Service Funeral Home, Huntsville, AL. A graveside service will follow at 11:30 a.m. at Maple Hill Cemetery.
