Richard Goodrich Whittaker

Obituary
RICHARD GOODRICH WHITTAKER
- Richard Goodrich Whittaker, 90, formerly of Brooktondale, NY died Saturday, November 6, 2004. He was born June 21, 1914, a son of the late Herbert A. and Grace Goodrich Whittaker.Richard lived most all of his life in the Town of Caroline and was known to many as "Dick" or "Deak." He was employed in the early years as a mail carrier and then served the community through his more than 40 years of employment with the Town of Caroline Highway Department. He loved the country life and concurrently ran a small farm. He and his wife, Phyllis, attended the Caroline Valley Federated Church and enjoyed times together with the Caroline Senior Citizens.Richard is survived by four children, James (Pamela) of Enfield, Bruce (Kathleen) of Groton, Thomas (Karla) of Brooktondale; and his daughter, Ann (David) VanDeMark, also of Brooktondale; thirteen grandchildren; and thirteen great-grandchildren; a sister, Beverly (Robert) Keane of Canastota; a brother, Riley (Charlotte) Whittaker of Sebring, FL; a sister-in-law, Dorla Whittaker; and several nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his loving wife of 61 years, the former Phyllis Williams, who passed away in 1999; three sisters, Grace and Elizabeth Whittaker and Bertha Kester; and his brothers, Herbert and Glenn Whittaker. Richard spent the last years of his life at the Reconstruction Home in Ithaca, NY, and the staff there became an extension of the family.Memorial services will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday, November 9, 2004, at the Perkins Funeral Home with Rev. David Dik officiating. Burial will follow in Quick Cemetery, Brooktondale. Friends are invited to call 1 to 2 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home, 55 West Main St., Dryden. Those wishing to remember Mr. Whittaker are asked to consider memorials, in lieu of flowers, to a local community organization of one's choice. www.perkinsfuneralhome.com.