Terry Douglas Whitaker's Obituary
Terry Douglas Whitaker went home into the waiting arms of Jesus on October 11, 2024, in Longview, Texas after a long struggle with Parkinson’s Disease.
Terry was born on December 21, 1941, in Henderson, Texas and was the only child of Douglas F. Whitaker and Nelwyn Thrasher Whitaker. He grew up on the family farm in the Chalk Hill community of Rusk County Texas where the family raised beef cattle. During his youth he raised show calves and received many blue ribbons at livestock shows around Texas. He graduated from Tatum High School in 1960, and then attended Sam Houston State University where he was a member of Delta Tau Alpha, graduating with both Bachelors and Masters degrees. During his school years, Terry was heavily involved in the Future Farmers of America (FFA) and was awarded their highest achievable degree in the National FFA Organization, the American FFA Degree in 1963. Terry met Phyllis Elaine Garrett in 1959 and they married in 1963 while still attending university. They welcomed their only child, David Warren Whitaker, in 1967.
Terry spent his entire career in education with Longview Independent School District, beginning in 1965 and retiring in 1997. Over the years he touched hundreds of lives through his science programs. He was passionate about teaching and was always delighted to see the “light bulb turn on” when a concept took hold.
This quiet gentle man who revered his Lord and his country also had a fun-loving nature and an adventurous side. He square danced for years and headed several of their organizations. He and Phyllis also traveled extensively both through the United States and overseas. He was an avid RV’er and was so proud of his big motor home. Every spare minute was spent tinkering and polishing on it. He had fun!
Terry was preceded in death by his parents, Douglas and Nelwyn Whitaker. Left to cherish his memory are his wife, Phyllis, his son and daughter-in-law David and Joyce Whitaker (Allen, Texas), grandson Garrett Whitaker (The Woodlands, Texas), and granddaughter Reagan Whitaker (Vanderbilt University-Nashville, TN), and a wealth of friends and extended family.
A time of visitation is scheduled from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm on Friday, October 18, 2024 at Rader Funeral Home in Longview, Texas. A funeral service will then be held at 12:00 noon, Saturday, October 19, 2024 at the same location. Interment will be in Chalk Hill Cemetery following the service.
The family wishes to express their love and appreciation to special friends, hospital workers, Son Risers Small Group class of Mobberly Baptist Church, and Heart-to-Heart Hospice for all their care and attention. They made a difficult time easier to bear.
In lieu of flowers, he asked that donations be made to St. Jude’s Hospital that was dear to his heart.
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