Memorial services for DON E. WHITTAKER, III, PH.D., will be held at Memorial Oaks Funeral Home, 13001 Katy Freeway, Houston, Texas, on June 19, 2010, at 10:00 A.M. The service will be officiated by Don Lee, Pastor of Pastoral Care of Metropolitan Baptist Church.Don E. Whittaker, III, was born on February 20, 1962, in Houston, Texas, while John Glenn welcomed Don's birth in man's first orbit of the earth. Don was welcomed in Heaven by Jesus and his own earthly father on Sunday, June 13, 2010.Don began his love of music and the arts long before he entered elementary school in Alief. At 3 years of age, he asked for a piano, and began playing the piano about 4 years of age. When he was 3, he wrote and sang his first musical arrangement, "Soap" waiting in the pediatrician's office. He loved music and playing musical records on the stereo, and attended plays and concerts with his parents. His Aunt Sally who directed theatre, made him a star at age 4, when he starred in "Superman." When he began learning piano, he had a sister join his family. Don was a very loving and protective brother throughout his lifetime, and she returned the adoration.When his family moved to Jersey Village, Texas, during his freshman school year, he began working with youth church day camps at Jersey Village Baptist Church. Then with the arrival of his driver's license, he was rewarded with the pleasant opportunity to be an usher at Jones Hall during "The Nutcracker" season. Another opportunity presented itself to Don when he was a junior, and he became the Youth Director at West Memorial Baptist Church. Additionally, he added voice lessons to his repertoire, and in his school he was enjoying other favorite subjects as English, German, Math, History, and Science. He enjoyed acting in school plays in the drama department, as well as singing and trips made to Canada with the high school choir.Upon high school graduation, Don received the National Merit Scholarship, the receipt of which is based on a student's excellence. This was granted to him through his father's company, Pullman-Kellogg. Entering Rice University, he continued his love in the "fine arts" and received his Bachelor of Arts degree with a minor in psychology. While still at Rice, he enjoyed and excelled in singing the lead in "A Little Night Music." He, also, worked in a college which prepared their students to become legal assistants. He put in a rather lengthy tenure with a lawyer, and worked with a renowned, published psychologist. He began work as Music Director with his Aunt Sally, who was the theatre director at Strake Jesuit; in presentations as "Grease," Guys and Dolls," "Little Shop of Horrors," among others, teaching voice technique and providing the accompaniment for many musicals. Everywhere Don taught, he made lasting and enduring friendships.With his sights always set on teaching college and university students, he continued with great a devotion and determination to both music and theatre. After he began his studies at The Florida State University in Tallahassee, he wrote and directed "Crime Scenes," among others, as well. And upon learning his thesis, "American Musical Theatre Sequels" had been approved and published in partial fulfillment for his degree of Master of Arts through the School of Theatre, he was ecstatic. His degree was awarded in 1996.Eager to gain entrance to Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, he readily admitted during his initial interview that "his plans were to continue on Interstate 10." During his LSU stint, Don directed many plays, as "Adaptation," "The Fantastics," and numerous others. The Baton Rouge newspaper, The Advocate, writes "Donald Whittaker, a department Ph.D. candidate who wrote production notes for "Three Penny Opera,' hinting that "Threepenny" won't require as much heavy lifting as more traditional operas such as Wagner or Mozart." He completed his Doctorate of Philosophy in the the Theatre School in 2000 with his dissertation "Subversive Aspects of American Musical Theatre." Don, also, worked with a charter high school in teaching and directing children's operas; and, in a library working in an indigent area to encourage youngsters in better reading habits. He accomplished further various publications in American music, one of which he discovered a music pioneer's life in Alexandra, LA, that had no prior publication, and had longed to return to work on a book in his future. Including one particular American musician was Stephen Sondheim, whom Don held in highest of regards, and found he could not only relate to Sondheim's music, but received direct encouragement from Sondheim.He accepted his first teaching staff position at Northwestern University within the School of Performing Arts in Nachitoches, Louisiana. And he was met, again, with eager students to learn acting and voice. Don had such a gentle, kind approach in teaching, students would approach him for counseling of potential personal or school problems. He would never turn a student away, and always saw how they could/should improve.However, Don would return home to provide himself and his dad with a shortened, but fulfilling time to spend with one another before his critically ill dad died.Just before Don's own death, he was once more creating within the two loves of his professional life, music and theatre. Don had recently become a staff member of the Theatre faculty at The Lone Star College System on the Montgomery campus. He was the piano accompanist for the Houston Community College"s Town & Country choir department, and frequently would assume the role of the assistant choir director as necessity demanded. He was so happy to be doing what he loved, while interacting with students again. In the short time he was it was the beginning of many endearing and lasting friendships. Don loved life and laughter, he never met a stranger, nor would he turn anyone away. His smile was infective, truly contagious and shared laughter with everyone he met. He had his grit and determination instilled in himself, just as his dad had done the same. He had a strong and abiding strength he placed in friendship, as he had in a specially bonded, lifetime friendship he maintained with one special high school friend.Preceded in death by his loving father, Don Whittaker, Jr., both grandmothers: Minnye Barbay and Naneline Whittaker Descant, his uncle Tanner Barbay, and cousin, Tracy Barbay.He is survived by his mother, Mrs. Jane Whittaker, his adoring sister, Tanna Ritter and her husband, Howard and his two nieces, Hannah Shea and Sophie Jane Ritter. Don would "climb the highest mountain and swim the deepest ocean" for these two little girls. Their title for him was the proudest title he possessed, "Uncle Donny." Don leaves aunts, Sally Barbay and Wanda Peacock; cousins, Terry Barbay, wife, Zelena, and daughter, Kyndal, as well as Kyle and Keith Standley and Kristen Roberts. Numerous great uncles and aunts living out of Houston, as do second cousins.Don's sunshine smile and laugh will always remain fresh and beautiful for his mother, and for Tanna, Howard, Shea and Sophie, as will his gentle, kind, and generously loving heart never be absent by his presence.Honorary pallbearers are Howard Ritter, Terry Barbay, Kyle and Keith Standley, Robin McElfresh, Tom Meade, Rick Smith, David Cleveland. Memorial contributions for a music theatre scholarship in the name of Don E. Whittaker, III, should be forwarded to: Lone Star College Foundation 5000 Research Forest Dr., The Woodlands, Texas 77381-4399. Please visit memorialoaksfunerals.com
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