Robert Wayne Whitmire

R. Wayne Whitmire passed into the presence of the Lord peacefully at home on April 22, 2014, surrounded by his adoring family. Wayne was born in Parson, Kansas on April 28, 1916. The greatest love and source of joy in Wayne's life was his wife, Johnie. They enjoyed 75 years of marital bliss which produced five boys, eleven grandchildren and 21 great-grandchildren and a great-great-grandchild named after Wayne. In addition to their four boys, Wayne and Johnie adopted James "Jimmy" Mitchell Trimble. Their second son, Richard, and adopted son, Jimmy, predeceased them.

Having graduated from high school early, Wayne enlisted in the United States Navy in September 1936 and married Johnie a year later. Although Wayne joined the Navy to see the world, he soon found himself an eyewitness to history. Wayne served on five ships during World War II: the USS Trenton; the USS Sampson; the USS Breeman; the USS Taussig and the USS Achomawi. Among other distinctions, Wayne was an orderly to Rear Admiral Julius C. Townsend and Fleet Admiral Chester W. Nimitz. Wayne served onboard The USS Taussig in the Battle of Okinawa and was honorably discharged from the Navy in 1946.

Johnie and Wayne moved to Eureka in 1947. They formed many lifelong friendships with other Eureka families too numerous to mention. After working at the Dolbeer-Carson Lumber Company for a number of years, Wayne joined the Eureka Police Department. He served as a police officer for the better part of two decades until his retirement in 1974. In addition to his active law enforcement duties, Wayne taught courses at the College of the Redwoods Police Science Program. Wayne had a lifelong love of learning and, after graduating from College of the Redwoods with honors, embarked on yet another career teaching at Eureka and Fortuna High Schools.

Wayne never retired from being the confidante and wise counsel to his sons and grandchildren. In more recent years, Wayne could be seen on the Municipal Golf Course with one or all of his sons, enjoying a meal at a Retired Police Officers Association get-together, or attending meetings and social gatherings with fellow members of the Knights of Pythias. Wayne and Johnie attended Calvary Community Church in Fields Landing. Most often of all, Wayne could be found enjoying a game of cribbage or gin rummy with Johnie, until she passed away on April 26, 2012.

The whole Whitmire family is enormously thankful to Robert and Carol Whitmire for their loving care of Wayne in his twilight and for the advice of Hospice of Humboldt during his final days.

Rev. Dennis Hartman from Calvary Community Church will be officiating a graveside service for family on Saturday, April 26, 10:00 a.m. at the Ocean View-Sunset Memorial Cemetery, followed by a service at First Covenant Church, 2526 J Street, Eureka, at 11:00 a.m.

The Whitmire family will be gathering at the Moose Lodge, 4328 Campton Road, Eureka, at noon and invites fellow mourners to join them.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial contributions be made to Hospice of Humboldt, 2010 Myrtle Avenue, Eureka, CA 95501.