Chalma Neill Whitaker, age 84, died Saturday, January 21, 2012 at Baptist Memorial Hospital Columbus. Services will be held Wednesday, January 25, 2012 at 2:00 PM at Gunter & Peel Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Charles Whitney officiating. Burial will follow at Friendship Cemetery with U.S. Navy Honors. Visitation will be held Tuesday January 24, 2012 at the funeral home from 6:00 PM 8:00 PM. Mr. Whitaker was born on Tuesday, October 11, 1927 in Granger, IA to the late Luther Whitaker and Retta Gates Whitaker. He was a member of Grace Baptist Church. He was a Registered Nurse and Licensed Physical Therapist. He graduated from Alexian Brothers Hospital School of Nursing in Chicago, IL, and the University of Kansas Physical Therapy Program. He spent seven years in the Navy, three in China Occupation Forces. He was the sixth of eight Whitaker brothers to serve in WWII and the Korean Conflict. Mr. Whitaker came to Columbus in 1959, under the auspices of the United Cerebral Palsy Association and in conjunction with Columbus Junior Auxiliary. There were eighteen Cerebral Palsy Telethons in connection with his work. An eight county area was served. He owned and operated Columbus Rehabilitation Center,and C&D Hospital Supply Company. He performed physical therapy at Columbus Hospital, Doster Hospital, and also Lowndes General Hospital. He retired in 1993. In 1961, he was named Outstanding Young Man of the Year by the Columbus Junior Chamber of Commerce. At the time of his death, he was a lifetime member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, The American Physical Therapy Association, and the Civitan Club of Columbus. In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by his wife, Dorothy Dottie Whitaker, Survivors include his son Stephan Michael Whitaker (Janice), Calera, AL; his daughters Kathleen Marie Bryden, (Robbie), Hickory, NC and Carole Jean Moore (Carl), Tupelo, MS; his sister Adeline Brown, Higdon, AR; his brothers Richard Whitaker (Dodee), Reno, NV, and Luther Whitaker, San Diego, CA; and his sisters-In-law Mary Lou Whitaker, Des Moines, IA, and Carole White, Virginia Beach, VA. He is also survived by fourteen Grandchildren Drew Moore, Carlee Grace Moore, Amy Dilworth, Deidre Dilworth, Christopher Bryden, Daniel Bryden, Stephen Bryden, Robert Bryden, Karen Bryden, Tiffany Bryden, Chris Sanders, Julie Johnson, Ginger Angle and Cindy Selzer and thirteen Great Grandchildren. Pallbearers will be Bruce Cyr, Dale Fulton, Bert Chain, Danny Thornton, Mitch Cargile, Danny Edwards, and Chris Whitney. Honorary Pallbearers will be Dr. Doyle Sumrall, Dr. Bart Williams, Dr. Billy Sullivan, Dr. Robert Dill, Dr. Wylie Hutchins, Don Walden, B.J. Wegener, Bill King, Billy Price, Fred Bell, Men of Grace Baptist Church, and The Columbus Civitan Club. In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to Golden Triangle Contact Help Line P.O. Box 1304, Columbus, Mississippi 39703 or Grace Baptist Church P.O. Box 9095, Columbus, MS 39705.
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