Harold Nelson "Jim" Whitaker

June 02, 1924 - June 01, 2013

Harold Nelson "Jim" Whitaker Obituary Our father, grandfather and great and great-great grandfather entered into eternal rest on June 1, 2013. Harold Nelson "Jim" Whitaker was born in Reeds, Missouri on June 2, 1924 to George Rudolph and Emma Helen (Oliver) Whitaker in his grandfather's home. Growing up he attended Possum Trot School in Reeds, Missouri. He graduated from Eastern Washington in Cheney. He was a light weight boxer. He entered the military on 1941. He was stationed in Colorado Springs, Colorado and met Betty Irene Loehr. They were married in Joplin, Missouri on May 9, 1946. They later moved back to Colorado Springs where he re-enlisted in the US Army in 1949. He made it a career and retired from it with 27 years of service as a CSM. He was a WWII veteran. They lived in overseas in Japan and Germany. After military service he worked at numerous odd jobs then went to college at Eastern and achieved his Bachelor of Business degree. He worked for the IRS for years as an auditor and instructor, retiring in 1986. He also worked on the volunteer police force for many years. He was honored in November of 2011 to fly (Honor Flight) to Washington, DC to see the World War II memorial and meet Senator Doyle. Jim is survived by: daughters Linda Mattes and husband Richard, Pendleton, OR, Connie Holbert, Merrimack, NH, Cindy Graff and husband Terry, Kennewick, WA, Mary Siegel and husband Doug, Troutdale, OR; son Harold James Turner, Memphis, TN; sisters Virginia Wood and husband Marion, Reeds, MO and Charlotte Walker, Tuscon, AZ; grandchildren Deon and Julie Mattes, Dustyn and Virginia Mattes, Juhree Ross, Nicky Ross, Kacie Holbert, April and Brian Kristjansson, Richard Graff, Bradly Graff, Wendy Siegel and Andrew Siegel; great-grandchildren Mike Mattes, D.J. Mattes, Shayla Mattes, Remmie Graff, Dalhia Kristjansson and Owen Kristjansson; great-great-grandchildren Mylie Garrett/Mattes and Casey Mattes. Jim's family would like to thank The Academy for all of their help and support; the medical facility at Sacred Heart Hospital and their staff for their kindness and compassion. A funeral service will be held at Knox Presbyterian Church, 806 W. Knox Avenue, Spokane, WA, on Wednesday, June 5 at 11:00am. The family recommends contributions to Inland Northwest Honor Flight 608 W 2nd, Suite 309 Spokane, WA 99201-4430 in lieu of flowers.