Douglas Whittaker

Douglas John Whittaker passed away 13 January 2015 in Provo, Utah of causes related to age. He was born 22 March 1921 in Benjamin, Utah to Isaac Curle Whittaker and Sarah Evangeline Hone. He was raised and educated in Garfield, Utah, graduating from Cyprus High School in 1939. He worked in the Civilian Conservation Corps in the Ogden, UT area where he learned the skills of surveying. He moved to Westwood, California where he was employed by the Red River Lumber Co. where he also worked on a surveying crew. During the Second World War he was drafted and he served in the Army Air Corp as a radio operator and gunner in both B-17s and B-29s. He was a Staff Sergeant in the military service, and also served as a Flight Radio Instructor for both planes. Following the end of the war he returned to California where he continued working in the logging and lumber industry, eventually obtaining his license as a Professional Forester. He retired in 1992 after 47 years working for Fruit Growers Supply Company, a subsidiary of Sunkist. His employment took him and his family from Westwood, to Susanville, to Hilt, and then to Yreka, California. He met his wife, Althea Margie Harlow, while working in northern California. They married in 1943. Following her conversion to the Church of Jesus Church of Latter-day Saints, they were sealed in the Salt Lake Temple in 1953. At the time of his death they had been married for 71 years. He was active in church and civic affairs throughout his life. He served as a Branch President, High Priest Group Leader, Young Men's President, Gospel Doctrine teacher and ward financial clerk. He served as Chairman of the Yreka California High School Board of Education, Director of Scholarships, Foreman of the Siskiyou County [CA] Grand Jury, Director of the Pacific Logging Congress, and Director and President of Sierra Cascade Logging Conference. In addition to his wife, Althea, he is survived by a sister Maxine Dimick (Magna, UT); a brother, Ted Curle (Salt Lake City); and four children: David Jay (Linda) of Orem, Cathy Gay of Pahrump, NV, Darren Jay of Provo and Lezlie Kay Aspelund of Provo. He was preceded in death by two daughters: Karen Dawn (1944-45), and Lorrie Lynn (1956). He has eleven grandchildren and twenty great grand children. There will be a graveside service on Friday, January 16th at 11:00 a.m. at the East Lawn Memorial Cemetery 4800 North 650 East in Provo, UT. Condolences may be sent the family at www.SundbergOlplinMortuary.com

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