Craig Lawrence Whitacre

He was a Vietnam Era and Cold War Era veteran that served as a Missileer in the United States Air Force. Craig achieved the rank of Sargent while serving as a maintenance technician on Minute Man I missiles. While serving at Whiteman AFB, he joined the aero club and became a flight instructor.

After being honorable discharged, Craig used the GI bill to continue his flight training, which ultimately led to a wonderful career in corporate aviation. Craig experienced flying for several different employers, but spent the last 25 years of his career flying for Kerr McGee in Oklahoma City and its successor, Anadarko Petroleum where he became chief pilot. During the six years he spent in The Woodlands, Texas with Anadarko Petroleum, he made many great friends.

Craig married the love of his life, Debbie, April 21st 1984. He welcomed her daughter, Dyan, with open arms and treated her like she was his own. They then had two more children, Caitlyn and Brent. He was proud of his son and treasured the times that they spent together. Craig’s true joy was his family. He loved to travel, build models, and fly remote control airplanes. He was an avid cyclist, and had many great times with his cycling buddies from Anadarko and Oklahoma Bicycle Society. He was a mentor, a friend to many, a true gentleman, and the kindest soul.

He is survived by his wife Debbie, son Brent, daughter and son-in-law Dyan and Juan Rodriguez, grandchildren Brynlee and Logan Rodriguez, parents Ronald and Ramona Whitacre, brother Alex Whitacre and wife Sally, brother Alan Whitacre and wife Tamara, sister Shelly Foote and husband Rob, grandmother Martha Allen, and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by daughter Caitlyn Beth Whitacre.

A memorial service will be 2 p.m., Saturday, January 7, 2016 at the Hahn-Cook/Street & Draper Chapel. Arrangements under the direction of Hahn-Cook/Street & Draper Funeral Directors, Oklahoma City, OK.