Obituary of Franklin Daniel Whitaker

Funeral services for Franklin Daniel "Dan" Whitaker Jr., age 59, of Woodland, will be held Friday, July 5, 2013, at 11:00 a.m. from Napoleon Church of Christ with Bro. Don Pruitt, Bro. Ronnie Prince and Bro. Kenny Prince officiating. Burial will follow at the adjoining cemetery with Benefield Funeral Home in charge of arrangements The family will receive friends at the funeral home from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. on Thursday, July 4, 2013. Mr. Whitaker will lie in state at the church for one hour prior to services beginning at 10:00 a.m. on Friday. Mr. Whitaker died Tuesday, July 2, 2013, at his home. Survivors include his wife, Rita Prince Whitaker of Woodland; two daughters, Dana Kay Whitaker (Amy Calhoun) of Woodland and Deana Grant (Donnie) of Roanoke; his mother, Lila Shelnutt Whitaker; two brothers, Harold Whitaker (Ronda) of Roanoke and Steve Whitaker (Rhonda) of Carrollton, Ga.; step-grandson, Curtis Grant; many nieces and nephews. Pallbearers will be Andy Rosella, Seth Walker, Chris Whitaker, Clayton Whitaker, Clint Prince, Stuart Prince, William Prince and Ryan Prince. Honorary pallbearers will be Ben Prince, Bradley Prince, Josh Burns, Jared Prince and Brian Raughton. A lifelong Randolph County resident, Mr. Whitaker was born in Spokane, Washington, on May 2, 1954, son of Franklin Daniel Whitaker, Sr. and Lila Shelnutt Whitaker. He was a member of Napoleon Church of Christ and had been employed with Pilgrim's Pride. Mr. Whitaker was preceded in death by his father. Memorials may be floral or the family suggests contributions to Huntington's Society of America, 505 Eighth Avenue, Suite 902, New York, NY 10018.