Earl J. Whitaker

Earl Joseph Whitaker
May 29, 1940 – October 24, 2025

Earl Joseph Whitaker, 85, of Exeter, New Hampshire, passed away peacefully on October 24, 2025, after a long and courageous battle with Alzheimer's disease.

Born on May 29, 1940, to Earl and Yvonne Whitaker, he grew up in New York Mills, New York, and graduated from New York Mills High School. He went on to proudly serve his country as an airman in the United States Air Force. Following his service, Earl pursued a career in engineering, retiring from General Electric in 2001 after many years of dedicated work.

Earl was a devoted husband, loving father, and steadfast friend. His love and dedication to his wife, children, and extended family was unwavering. To his wife of 63 years, Kathleen (Casey), he was a loyal and dedicated husband. As a father, he was both kind and fair, instilling the values of honesty, humility, compassion, and hard work in his daughters. He loved playing with his grandchildren, building sandcastles, body surfing, skiing and fishing. He was a friend to all who knew him, generous and always willing to lend a helping hand.

A man of quiet faith, Earl was deeply dedicated to his Catholic beliefs, the Knights of Columbus, and to St. Michael's Parish, where he found community, comfort, and purpose.

He was someone who found joy and wonder in the beauty and miracles of nature. Earl cherished time spent outdoors-observing wildlife, hiking, biking, gardening, and capturing the world's splendor through photography. Ever resourceful, he would repair something rather than replace it, reflecting his patience, practicality, and appreciation for life's simple blessings.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Earl and Yvonne (LaManque) Whitaker, and his sisters, Barbara (Raymond) Artz and Gloria (Tony) Joaquin.

Earl is survived by his beloved wife, Kathleen; his daughters, Christine Paccito and Kara (Daren) Snapp; his grandchildren, Kristopher Garside, Skyla Pollard, Camden Rayder, and Cory and Courtney Snapp; as well great-grandchildren, Connor and Aiden Garside. He is also survived by his siblings, Patricia (Michael) Liberty, Duane Whitaker, and Paul (Chris) Whitaker, and many nieces and nephews.

Family and friends are invited to celebrate Earl's life:

Wednesday, October 29, 4–6 p.m. – Wake at Stockbridge Funeral Home, Exeter, Thursday, October 30, 11 a.m. – Funeral Mass at St. Michael's Catholic Church, Exeter. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to St. Vincent de Paul, or that you honor Earl's memory by performing a simple act of kindness for someone in need-check on a neighbor, help carry someone's groceries, or offer warm socks and gloves to someone who is in need.

Earl's faith, kindness, humility, and love will be deeply missed and fondly remembered by all who knew him.