Donald Duane Whitaker, 93, Oakville resident and former carpenter, passed away on May 25, 2021 at his home in Oakville, WA.
Don was born on March 3, 1928 in Brittan South Dakota to Melvin and Annie (Laremore) Whitaker. When he was 8, the family moved to Renton, WA where he attended school.
He joined the Navy in February of 1946 and was a radioman 3rd Class of the Sixth Seaplane Squadron out of San Diego, CA. He was honorably discharged in December 1947.
On August 28, 1948, Donald married Wanda Lee Weryli in Renton. She would later pass away on August 10, 2011 in Oakville.
Donald drove a lumber truck for 5 years. He then went into carpentry in 1956 and eventually retired in 1990. Two years later he moved from his Bonney Lake home to Oakville.
Don was a lifetime member of the VFW. He enjoyed woodworking, watching westerns and fishing. He also liked to restore and fix trailers and trucks. But above all, he loved his family.
Don is survived by a daughter, Chris (Lisa) Whitaker of Oakville, WA; two sisters: Gertrude Sargent of Kent and Marlys Lee of Enumclaw; a grandson, Duane Saxton of Oakville.
There will be an internment service for Donald with Navy Honors at Tahoma National Cemetery on
Arrangements are entrusted to Twibell’s Fern Hill Funeral Home in Aberdeen, WA.
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