Whitmore, James

James Whitmore, 96, of 6126 Rockwell Dr. NE, Cedar Rapids, formerly of Jones County, died Saturday, Feb. 11, 2012, at St. Luke's Hospital, Cedar Rapids. Services: 1:30 p.m. Thursday at First Christian Church, Center Point, by the Rev. Kara Courtney. The family will greet friends from 1 until 1:30 p.m. at the church before the service on Thursday. Burial: Center Point Cemetery, Center Point. Arrangements by Murdoch Funeral Home & Cremation Service, Center Point.

Survivors include his wife, Doris; children, Kent L. (Deb) Willer of Marion, Jolene (Gerald) Huffman of Cave Creek, Ariz., and Janene Willer of Pocatello, Idaho; grandchildren, Heather (Steve) Rittgers, Allyson (Tom) Kendrick and Ryan (Jenny) Huffman; and great-grandchildren, Haleigh, Keighley, Hadley, Halle, Emmy and Annie.

James was preceded in death by his parents; grandson, Paul Ehmsen; his sister, Valoria; and his niece, Jean Marie Darrell.

Born Aug. 20, 1915, in Stanwood, Iowa, James was the son of John and Sarah (Brewer) Whitmore. He graduated from Stanwood High School and then farmed in the Jones County area.

James was a member of the First Christian Church in Center Point and the Anamosa Rotary Club for 40 years. He was a recipient of the Paul Harris Fellow Award, served on the Jones County Fair board, and was a vice president and president of the Farm Bureau.

James was a devoted husband and father and was well respected with lots of good friends. He was a generous, kind hearted man.

He enjoyed fishing at Leech Lake and vacations with his family and friends.

He lived in Cedar Rapids and wintered in Florida and Arizona.

Memorials may be directed in James memory to the Rotarians of Jones County or the First Christian Church of Center Point.

Please sign the online guest book for James at www.murdochfuneralhome.com under obituaries.

Published Feb. 13, 2012 in The Gazette