Ronald "Ronnie" Hiram Whitaker

He was born in Columbus GA, on June 15, 1947, to Cora Lee Davis Whitaker and Hiram Whitaker.

His early years were spent between the family farm in Bonifay, Florida and Columbus, where his parents found steady employment at the Bibb Mill. When he became school age, they moved permanently to “the village,” and he attended Bibb City School and graduated from Columbus High School in 1965. With brief breaks for the Army and the University of Georgia, Ronnie graduated from Columbus College with a degree in History.

Ronnie was baptized at Porter Memorial Baptist Church, having been lured there by a neighbor, who promised if he attended he could check books out of the church library to read. He taught the Junior Boys Sunday School class. His love of Jesus was a vital part of his life, and he always prayed with his family before meals, even when out in public. He believed that a father’s duty was to lift his family in prayer.

He had a variety of jobs throughout his life: drug store clerk, grocery clerk, textile worker, chemical-plant worker, driver/assistant, delivery driver, and BBQ cooker.

He was an avid fisherman in his earlier years. He loved books, action movies, and crime stories. He treasured his time in the Boy Scouts, getting started at Bibb City in the Cub Scouts, then Webeloes and Boy Scouts. As a father, he became a leader in all three levels of scouting. Being in nature spoke to his soul and he enjoyed sharing camping knowledge with his own sons and other boys.

He is survived by his wife, Jan “Trecie” Carver Whitaker, their two sons, Ben and Brice, Ben’s wife, Lindsey, and granddaughter Caroline, many cousins, his aunts Lavern Williams, Mattie Lou Moore, Evelyn Whitaker, Vera Whitaker, and Shirley Whitaker.

He was the “Mayor of 15th Street”, keeping watch on the front porch for years, greeting and holding conversations with the various neighbors, dog walkers, children walkers and others on the street.

Visitation will be at Striffler- Hamby Mortuary on Macon Road in Columbus from 5-7 pm on Monday, May 25, 2015. The funeral will be held at Porter Memorial Baptist Church, 90 40th Street, at 11:00 am on Tuesday, May 26th.