On June 4, 2026, David Earl Whitaker, Jr. found a peaceful, shallow place to cross the river. He was 83 years old. He felt no sting of death as Jesus held his hand and carried him into the presence of God.

David was born on August 9, 1942, in Fort Worth, Texas, and was the first son of David Earl Sr. and Ola Gray Whitaker. He and his wife, Martha Ann, resided in Duncanville, Texas. He is survived by his wife with whom he shared much happiness, joy and so many blessings.

He is remembered with love by his children Jeffrey and wife Rhonda Whitaker, Rachel and husband William Baisden, Eric and wife Adrienne Scherer, Jonathan and wife Erin Scherer and his brother Michael and wife Joanne Whitaker. He was blessed with many grandchildren and great grandchildren. And, oh how he loved them. They meant more to him than any of them will ever know.

David graduated in 1960 from Thomas Jefferson High School in Dallas, Texas. He went on to attend the University of Texas at Austin and later transferred to the University of Texas at Arlington where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering degree.

While in college, he worked as a draftsman at Mosher Steel. After graduation, he worked in the Public Works Department for the cities of Farmers Branch and Dallas where he specialized in the design, construction, and maintenance of various infrastructure projects and systems. He designed, collaborated, and oversaw complex projects for Dallas' major airports. Later, he founded CiviCorp, LLC, a civil engineering consulting company. He and Martha moved to Cape Girardeau, Missouri where he worked for the city of Cape Girardeau. After retirement, he and Martha returned to Texas.

What a life. What a legacy. To those he left behind, he would want us to know how much we filled his heart. He would want each of us to know that the greatest adventure in life--knowing God-- begins at the Cross and ends with a "Hallelujah!" You made his life precious and full. As believers, know that you will see him again because he knew who holds tomorrow and the God of this valley is also the God of that mountain he's now experiencing where we all will praise Him eternally. Embrace the joy we shared and know that it is only a drop in the bucket of eternity we'll share with Christ. Now--he would say, "Celebrate Me Home!"