

Dr. Robert Ellis Whitaker, 73, of Louisville, passed away on Monday, March 15, 2010 at Baptist Hospital East. Dr. Whitaker was the senior pastor of Grace Community Church of the Nazarene in Louisville at the time of his passing and was a board member of the Kentucky Mountain Bible College.
He is survived by his wife of 50 years, JoeAnn (Thomas) Whitaker; his sons, Bob Jr, Steve and Scott; his grandchildren whom he loved dearly,David, Tricia, Amanda, Stevie, Caleb, Sam, Eva and John. In addition, he is survived by his siblings, Edith, Doris and Ron.
Dr. Whitaker was born on August 22, 1936 and raised in Louisville. He married the love of his life, JoeAnn on October 30, 1959. He came to know Christ at the October, 1956 Billy Graham crusade in Louisville. It was then that he felt called to become a minister of the gospel. His faith led him to Hobe Sound, Florida, where he enrolled at Hobe Sound Bible College, graduating in 1964. He later received his master's degree in Church History from Chicago School of Theology, and a doctorate from Bob Jones University. Following his graduation from Hobe Sound, he accepted a position with the school as Dean of Students, which he held for seven years. He was then promoted to Vice-President of the college in 1973 and became President in 1985. He served as President until his retirement from the school in 1994. He remained President Emeritus from 1994 until his death.
In 1997 Dr. Whitaker returned home to Louisville to become pastor of Grace Community Church. He led this congregation from 1997 until his passing on Monday.
On Sunday, March 14th Dr. Whitaker led his final worship service and preached his final sermon. The text which appeared on the church bulletin that day was from Psalm 16:11, "In Your Presence Is Fullness of Joy." Early Monday morning, God took him home where he will forever experience the fullness of joy in the presence of the God he loved.
A Celebration of Life service will be held on Thursday, March 18th at 10 a.m. at Highview Baptist Church, 7711 Fegenbush Lane, with interment in Resthaven Memorial Park. Visitation will be on Wednesday, March 17th from 6-8 p.m. at Arch L. Heady at Resthaven, 4400 Bardstown Road.
Expressions of sympathy may be made to Kentucky Mountain Bible College, P. O. Box 2, Vancleve, KY
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