Richard Whitmer

Richard A. Whitmer of Poplar Bluff passed away Wednesday, November 9, 2011 at the Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center, following a brief battle with cancer. He was 69. Mr. Whitmer was born March 11, 1942 at Poplar Bluff, Mo., to the late Lee Whitmer and Helen (Francisco) Whitmer. He was a lifetime resident of Butler County and was of the Baptist faith. He had worked for the Poplar Bluff Public Schools, the city of Poplar Bluff and Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center before retiring in 2007. Mr. Whitmer served in the U.S. Navy from 1959 to 1963 and was a riverboat Chief Engineer for 20 years. He loved to collect sports items, the St. Louis Cardinals, hunting and being with his granddaughter, Alyssa. On August 30, 1974, he was married to Norma Huggins in Poplar Bluff, Mo. She survives. Also surviving are two sons, Jason Lee Whitmer and Scott Lynn Whitmer both of Poplar Bluff; his brothers, Norman Whitmer and Joe Whitmer and wife, Joyce, all of Yucca Valley, California; two nephews, Randy Whitmer and Rick Whitmer of California; two nieces, Claudia Blackman, of Poplar Bluff, and Nancy Allen of Chrystal Spring, Mississippi; his granddaughter, Alyssa Lynn Whitmer of Poplar Bluff. He was preceded in death by his parents and two sisters, Veta Lois Blackman and Norma Kneibert. Visitation will begin at 6 p.m., Sunday, November 13, 2011 at Fowler-Sullivan Funeral Home, Poplar Bluff, Mo. Funeral services will be at 1 p.m. Monday, November 14, 2011 ,in the chapel, with Rev. Bill Orr officiating. Burial will be in the Poplar Bluff City Cemetery.