Donald Reeves Whitaker, Sr.

Mr. Whitaker graduated from Hillsborough High School in 1951 as Valedictorian, received his BS in engineering, with honors, from Duke University in 1955, and his masters degree in engineering from NC State University in 1969.

Mr. Whitaker worked as an engineer for Lockheed in Marietta, GA and Bethlehem Steel in Boston, Mass. where he was in charge of building the nuclear shield on the USS Brainbridge, the first nuclear destroyer. He returned to Raleigh, NC in 1962 to work for the Research Triangle Institute.

He joined Davidson & Jones Construction Co. in 1972 and became Vice President of Construction until 1993, at which time he became Construction Logistics Manager for the NC Department of Corrections.

Mr. Whitaker was responsible for the construction or scheduling for over 300 projects throughout the southeast from banks and schools to hotels and high rise buildings.

Through the years he was involved with the Boy Scouts of America. He was an eagle Scout and was Scoutmaster in Hillsborough, Raleigh and Milton, Mass. He was the past President of the Leroy Martin, PTA, a Sunday school teacher, baseball coach and mentor to many. He also taught an apprentice program for inmates at the Department of Corrections.

Mr. Whitaker is survived by his three children: son, Donald R. Whitaker, Jr., and his wife Donna, of Virginia Beach, VA; son, Timothy M. Whitaker, MD and his wife Mary Lee, of Rosemont, PA; and daughter, Ann Whitaker-Lyon and her husband, Marty and grandson Tommy, of Raleigh, NC.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Raleigh Rescue Mission, 314 E. Hargett St., Raleigh, NC 27601. www.raleighrescue.org

The family gives special thanks to the staff at Rex Rehab and Nursing facility, for all the wonderful care he received.

His family will receive friends Wednesday, November 28, 2012 from 5:00-7:00 pm at Brown-Wynne Funeral Home, 1701 E. Millbrook Rd., Raleigh, NC 27609. A family graveside service will be at 1:00 pm Thursday, November 29, 2012 at Hillsborough Town Cemetery, guests are welcome to attend.

Condolences may be sent to the family at www.BrownWynne.com