Funeral services celebrating the life of John Albert Whitaker, Jr., 90, will be held at 12:00 P.M., Saturday, August 15th, 2026, at New Chapel Hill Baptist Church. Interment will follow immediately after at Clark Springs Baptist Church Cemetery, under the direction of Mulhearn Funeral Home of West Monroe.

The visitation will be held from 10:00 A.M. until the time of service.

John Albert Whitaker Jr., born November 11th, 1935, in Monroe, Louisiana, passed away peacefully on July 30th, 2026, at his daughter’s home in San Antonio, Texas, surrounded by the family he cherished. He was ninety years old.

At eighteen, John answered the call to serve his country, enlisting in the United States Navy on September 23rd, 1954. During his five years of service, he worked as a machinist aboard the USS Rochester and USS Sperry, earning the National Defense Medal, China Service Medal, Good Conduct Medal, and recognition from Divers School as 2nd Class. His time in the Navy shaped the discipline, integrity, and quiet strength that would define the rest of his life.

John was a true jack of all trades, a man whose hands were never idle and whose skills seemed endless. Over the years he built truck bodies, worked as an electrician, drove trucks and buses, served as a maintenance mechanic, and ultimately owned his own trucking company. No matter the job, he approached his work with pride, honesty, and a willingness to help anyone who needed it. His reliability was not just a trait but a gift he offered freely to his community, coworkers, friends, and family.

John built a life rooted in love and devotion with Dorothy Hubbard, his partner in all things. Together they raised a family that became the center of his world. He was a steadfast husband, a loving father, and a man who believed that family was life’s greatest blessing. His home was a place of laughter, stories, and the kind of everyday moments that become treasured memories.

He found joy in the simple pleasures like crosswords, word searches, sudoku puzzles, and evenings spent watching wrestling. These quiet pastimes reflected his thoughtful nature and his appreciation for life’s small comforts.

John is preceded in death by his loving wife of sixty-seven years, Dorothy Gayle (Hubbard) Whitaker; his parents, John Whitaker Sr. and Edna Lambert; sons, Terry and Andrew Whitaker; daughter, Joy Thompson; granddaughter, Tabitha Whitaker; great granddaughter, Brookelynn Whitaker; brother, Charles Whitaker; sisters, Doris Tynes and Crystal Colony and brother-in-law, Armand Stokes.

Those left to honor and cherish John’s memory are his sons, John Albert Whitaker III and wife, Penny; Dwight Kalvin Whitaker, Sr. and wife, Janet; daughters, Penny Gayle Hancock and husband, Mark; Dana Marie Palmer; sixteen grandchildren; twenty-four great grandchildren; three great great grandchildren; sister, Jean Stokes; and numerous nephews, nieces and friends.