Betty Allen Whitmer

Betty Allen Shields Whitmer of Sarasota, Florida, passed peacefully in her sleep on Sunday, July 20, 2025, at the age of 90. She was born in Louisville, Kentucky on July 4th, 1935, and grew up in Washington, Indiana. She was a graduate of Washington High School and attended Purdue University graduating with a degree in Education with a minor in English. She was a proud member of the Pi Beta Phi sorority and was recognized as Debris (yearbook) Queen while at Purdue.

She met her husband Donn Bradford Whitmer, at Purdue where she was a member of the cheerleading squad, and he was a member of the football team. They married on June 9, 1957, and started a family, eventually settling in St. Clair Shores (Detroit), Michigan in 1963. Raising three sons kept her extremely busy for many years but she embraced the challenge and genuinely enjoyed being an involved parent. She worked as a substitute teacher, swim coach and student counselor at Lakeview High School and was passionate about helping students improve and graduate.

Betty was happiest and truly shined bright for over two decades at 22501 Van in St. Clair Shores. Not only was she a wonderful mother but her love, guidance and passion extended to many beyond the immediate family. Her home became somewhat of a “center of community” and good energy as she positively influenced dozens of friends with her love and good cheer. She was modest about her cooking skills, but her clam dip recipe is a family treasure, and her spaghetti dinners were legend in powering many local ice hockey players to peak performance. With three sons in travel hockey, she was active in the St. Clair Shores hockey community for nearly 20 years where she and Donn made many lifelong friends. Their life’s journey eventually took them south with a wonderful 11-year stop in Franklin, Tennessee. There they enjoyed being members at The Legends Golf Country Club and made many great new friends; eventually moving on to the Sarasota, Florida area.

Betty was a competitive swimmer and a lifeguard as a youth and continued to enjoy swimming, golfing, working puzzles, playing cards, music and traveling to various sporting events with Donn. As a July 4th baby she always joked that “the whole country is celebrating my birthday”. Her competitive spirit and loyalty to family/friends were continuously on display and you could always count on Betty to “tell it like it is”.

Betty was preceded in death by her husband of 63 years Donn Whitmer; her parents, Harry Allen and Jennie Betty Shields/Troutman (Finley Troutman) and granddaughter Alexandra Shields Whitmer.

Betty is survived by 2 siblings; Phyllis Houghton and Patricia “Pat” Thompson (Chet); 3 children, Harry Devere (Jennifer), Michael Bradford (Charli-engaged), William Randall (Annette); 7 grandchildren, Zach (Rachel), Skylin, Jordyn (Jake-engaged), Brad, Ben, Justin (Natasha), Jake and two great-grandchildren; Presley Marie and Wyatt Devere Whitmer.

A celebration of life will be held at 2pm on Saturday, September 6th at Robert Toale & Sons – Palms Memorial Park, 170 Honore Ave. Sarasota, FL 34231. Visitation will be prior to the service at 1pm.