Louise Luther Whitaker

COLUMBIA Funeral service for Louise Luther Whitaker, 86, will be held at 2:00 p.m. Friday, August 29, 2014, at Dunbar Funeral Home, Devine Street Chapel, with burial in Elmwood Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 1 until 2:00 p.m. prior to the service at the funeral home. Mrs. Whitaker died Monday, August 25, 2014. Born in Columbia, she was a daughter of the late James Watson and Mary Louise Haltiwanger Luther. A graduate of Dreher High School, she married her childhood friend and sweetheart, the late Dr. George Whitaker in 1950. She was a member of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church as a child and later was a member of The Lutheran Church of the Incarnation. She would often attend her granddaughter’s riding lessons and horse shows where she was affectionately called “Granmama” by both adults and children alike. She enjoyed going to garage and estate sales and loved the Low Country and Pawleys Island. She had many wonderful memories of the Grand Strand and the Myrtle Beach Pavilion. In addition, Charleston held a special place in her heart since she lived there with her husband while he attended medical school. Louise will be remembered by family and friends as a loving and caring person with a feisty side that everyone loved. She was selfless and would always take care of others before taking care of herself. Surviving are her son, George M. “Greg” Whitaker Jr. of Blythewood; daughter, Angela Whitaker Fishback of Blythewood; two grandchildren, Johnathan Whitaker (Ashley) of Hawaii, Meredith Fishback of Blythewood; great-grandchildren, Grayson and Jordan Whitaker; many nieces and nephews, and her special companion, a miniature dachshund named Abby. She was predeceased by her husband, Dr. George McGregor Whitaker and a sister, Myra May Herrington. Memorials may be made to Hospice Advantage, Hospice Angels Foundation, 401 Center Avenue, Bay City, MI 48708 or Riverbanks Zoo and Gardens, 500 Wildlife Parkway, Columbia, SC 29210.