Whittaker, James Shannon

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James Shannon Whittaker, 86, of Ripplemead, VA, passed away Wednesday, January 2, 2019, at his home. He was born March 25, 1932 in White Gate, VA, the son of the late Daniel Jessie & Mary Elizabeth Lawson Whittaker.

He loved tinkering with lawnmowers and mowing, and when he was able, he enjoyed hunting and fishing.

Besides his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Nellie Gray Peters Whittaker, 12 siblings, a daughter, Marie Antoinette Whittaker, a step-son, Henry “Mule” Donathan and a step-daughter, Julie Overton.

Left to cherish his memory are his fiancée, Mona Shultz; his son, Pete Whittaker; his step-sons, Danny J. Fisher, James (“Jug”) Arthur Garfield Donathan, Jr and William (“Buck”) Lee Donathan; a brother & sister-in-law, Clayton & Linda Whittaker; a sister, Lena Rucker; several grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great- grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews, too many to list.

Funeral services will be held Sunday, January 6, 2019 at 3:00 P.M. at A. Vest & Sons Funeral Home Chapel, White Gate, with Rev. Eddie Kendall officiating. The family will receive friends at the funeral home from 2:00 P.M. until service time, 3:00 P.M. Burial will take place at the Warden Cemetery at a later date.

The family extends a special thanks to the workers at Carilion Hospice for their care during this time.

The Whittaker family is in the care of A. Vest & Sons Funeral Home, White Gate, avestandsons.com, (540) 921-2985.