John Austin “Johnny” Whitaker, 68, of Hartford, passed away on Tuesday, July 24, 2012, at Owensboro Medical Health System. He was born in Ohio County on June 11, 1944, to the late John Calvert “Tobe Tucker” Whitaker and Alma Louise Dunning Whitaker. Mr. Whitaker was a self-employed logger and former race car driver of car No. 32. He enjoyed racing, fishing, hunting and playing with his great niece, Madlyn Faith Whitaker. He was preceded in death by a sister, Elizabeth May Johnson and a brother, Bobby L. Whitaker.
He is survived by his wife, Angela Warner Whitaker of Hartford; one son, Jonathan Scott Whitaker of Hartford; four brothers, Oather Whitaker of Centertown, Phillip Gene Whitaker of McHenry, Charles Earl (Charlie) Whitaker of Beaver Dam and Raymond Darrell Whitaker of Horse Branch and four sisters, Margaret Frances Johnson of Beaver Dam, Helen Darlene Johnson of Hartford, Anna Sue Jones of Morgantown and Victoria Lynn (Vicky) Howard of Hartford.
Funeral services will be conducted at 2 p.m. on Saturday, July 28, at Miller-Schapmire Funeral Home, with Chaplain Chris Helton officiating. Burial will follow in New Bethel Cemetery in Ohio County. Visitation will be held from 4 p.m. until 8 p.m. on Friday and from 9 a.m. until the time of services on Saturday at the Miller-Schapmire Funeral Home in Hartford.