Blanton Whitmire

Whitmire, Blanton 97, a well-known St. Louis businessman and philanthropist, died early Sunday, May 24, at his home in Kirkwood. Whitmire, a World War Two veteran who served in both the European and Pacific theaters, is the last surviving member of a family of 11 that was raised on a farm along the French Broad River outside Brevard, North Carolina. Whitmire was president of Whitmire Research Laboratories, an innovator in the pest-control field, especially on environmental concerns. After retiring, Whitmire became an active and engaged philanthropist. Among his interests: North Carolina State University, Western Carolina State University, Donald Danforth Plant Science Center, First Presbyterian Church of Kirkwood, Gateway Greening and the Shaw Nature Reserve of the Missouri Botanical Gardens. The Whitmire Wildflower Garden at Shaw was a gift he made in the name of his wife, Margaret, who died in 2010. Whitmire donated the Tree of Life chapel at First Presbyterian Church. In 2005 Whitmire received an honorary doctorate from Western Carolina. He received North Carolina State University's 2000 Watauga Medal (for his championing of less intrusive pest control), and in 2004 was elected toPest Control Magazine's Hall of Fame. Two months ago, Whitmire received the St. Louis Friend of Education award from the Missouri Association of School Administrators for his donations of science equipment to Kirkwood High School, Joplin High School and for funding a collaborative science exchange program between the schools. It was his way of responding to the tornado that destroyed the high school in Joplin. Whitmire is survived by his daughter, Catherine, of Clinton, WA, his son, Richard, of Arlington, VA., and three grandchildren: Zachary Hunter of Cambridge, MA; Morgan Kennedy, now serving with the State Department in Islamabad, and Tyler Whitmire of Sacramento, CA. Services: A memorial service will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, May 30, at First Presbyterian Church in Kirkwood. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to any of the nonprofits referred to above. www.boppchapel.com