Cletus Whitaker

Cletus W. “Clete” Whitaker, 90, of Newburg, departed this life on the afternoon of Sunday, May 26, 2019, at the Shippensburg Health Care Center.

He was born on September 11, 1928, in Elkatawa, KY, the son of the late Thomas J. and Orlena (Collins) Whitaker. Clete was a U.S. Air Force veteran, serving through W.W. II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War. He enlisted on November 28, 1945 and was honorably discharged on March 3, 1966, retiring as a Senior Master Sargent, after twenty-two years of service to his country.

After his military career, Clete went on to work for A.T. & T, at various locations in New Jersey, retiring in 1989 after twenty-two years of employment.

Clete was a post member of both the Durff-Kuhn V.F.W. Post #6168 and the Oscar M. Hykes American Legion Post #223, Shippensburg, and the AmVets Post #224, Chambersburg. He liked to study physics and electronics and in his free time after he retired, Clete became very interested in and enjoyed HAM radio.

He is survived by two daughters, Catherine Mioduszewski and husband James of Sparta, NJ, and Margaret Romash and husband Robert of Lafayette, NJ; a son, John Whitaker of Hopatcong, NJ; and four grandchildren, James, William, Andrew, and Thomas.

In addition to his parents, Clete was preceded in death by his first wife, Elizabeth (Nelson) Whitaker; and his second wife, Ellen Marie “Sally” Whitaker.

His funeral service will be held at 6:30 p.m., on Sunday, June 2, 2019, in the Remembrance Chapel at the Fogelsanger-Bricker Funeral Home & Crematorium, Inc., Shippensburg. Pastor Wayne A. Good will officiate. Interment with military honors will be at 9:30 a.m., on Monday, June 3, 2019, in the Ft. Indiantown Gap National Cemetery. Viewing will be one hour prior to the service on Sunday at the funeral home.

Memorial contributions may be made to the American Heart Association.