Lois R. Whitaker

NAPLES - Lois Russell Whitaker, age 75, of 75 Rugby Drive, Hendersonville, died Thursday, June 17, 1999, in an Asheville hospital. Mrs. Whitaker was a native of Henderson County and was a daughter of the late Horace Brookshire and Bina Mae Wilkie Russell.  She was retired from Taylor Instrument Company and volunteered for more than 30 years at the VA Medical Center.  She was a member of Fletcher Baptist Church. She is survived by her husband, James Ben Whitaker; a son, Sonny Lanning and his wife Mary of Weaverville;  a daughter Tami Lanning Keever and her husband Kenneth of Fletcher;  two stepsons, Jamie G. Whitaker and his wife Jamie of Hendersonville and Tommy Whitaker and his wife Yolanda of Virginia Beach, VA; two brothers, Cecil Russell and his wife Mabel of Fletcher and H.B. Russell and his wife Beverly of Hendersonville;  two sisters-in-law, Louise Russell of Boone and Joan Russell of Seattle;  four step-grandchildren, many nieces and nephews, and loving friends. Funeral services will be at 3:00 pm Sunday in the chapel of Groce Funeral Home at Lake Julian with the Revs. D.K. Brevard and Bud Russell officiating.  Burial will be in Shepherd Memorial Park. Her family received friends Saturday evening at the funeral home. Memorials may be made to the WNC Chapter, National Kidney Foundation, 10 McDowell Street, Asheville, NC 28801.