James Erwin Whitaker

James Erwin Whitaker, 84, husband of Elaine Tyler Whitaker, passed away on Wednesday, May 4, 2011 at Aiken Regional Hospital. Born on May 31, 1926, Erwin was the son of George Wightman Whitaker and Catherine McNab Whitaker and brother to Idie Plott, George Whitaker, and Bill Whitaker. He was preceded in death by his parents, his sister, and his brother Bill. Survivors are his wife Elaine, two daughters, Susan (Kirk) Lawson and Nina (Steve) Brown, a son, Stephen (Brenda) Whitaker, a step-daughter, Monica (Jeff) Cockrell, and a step-son, Bruce Jackson, 12 grandchildren, and his brother George Whitaker A memorial service will be held at St. John’s United Methodist Church in Aiken on Saturday, May 7 at 1:00 PM with the Reverend Dr. George Howle officiating. Visitation will follow the service in Ward Hall. Honorary pallbearers will be Chuck Simons, Dick Simons, Paul Simons, Ed Claxton, Al Haynes, and Clark Stanford. Interment will be private. Erwin grew up in Williston, S. C. and moved to Aiken in 1957. He graduated from Wofford College, and worked at the Savannah River Site for DuPont and then Westinghouse over 50 years. An active member of St. John’s United Methodist church, Erwin sang in the choir for over 50 years and was a member of the Asbury Sunday School class. He participated in the Aiken Heart Show and the Aiken Community Playhouse for many years. He loved to play golf, especially at his beloved Palmetto Golf Course. Memorials may be made to St. John’s United Methodist Church Music Ministry, or St. Johns United Methodist Church, 104 Newberry St., NW, Aiken, SC 29801 Mr. Whitaker's online guest book may be signed at www.shellhousefuneralhome.com. The family will receive friends from 6-8 PM Thursday evening at SHELLHOUSE FUNERAL HOME, INC., 924 HAYNE AVE., AIKEN, SC To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of James Erwin Whitaker, please visit our flower store.