Mr. John L. Whitaker, 78, of LaHarpe, Illinois passed away Tuesday, December 30, 2008 at 6:02 PM at the McDonough District Hospital in Macomb, Illinois.

He was born March 15, 1930 in Keokuk, Iowa, the son of Chester and Ruth King Whitaker. On February 18, 1951 he married Dorothy Shoup in Carthage, Illinois.

Mr. Whitaker was a graduate of LaHarpe High School and served in the US Navy during the Korean War. He farmed near LaHarpe and operated a used car dealership. He was a member of the Blackhawk Auto Restorers Club, Burlington, Iowa and the LaHarpe United Methodist Church.

Surviving are his wife, two daughters, Linda (Ken) Hunerdosse and Judy Johnson all of LaHarpe, 6 grandchildren, one brother, Don Whitaker of Bowen, Illinois, one sister, Shirley Wallace of Corpus Christi, Texas and one foster brother, Leroy Hardy.

He was preceded in death by his daughter and son-in-law, Sharon and Paul Ryder and one sister, Doris Whitaker.

Services will be held at 2:00 PM Saturday, January 3, 2009 at the LaHarpe United Methodist Church with Rev. Tom Wright officiating. Burial with military rites will be in the Pilot Grove Cemetery near Burnside, Illinois. Friends may call at the LaHarpe United Methodist Church after 4:00 PM Friday where the family will meet with friends from 6:00 until 8:00 PM Friday. A memorial fund has been established for the LaHarpe United Methodist Church or the Carthage Memorial Hospital.