H. W. (Bill) Whitaker Jr. died peacefully on April 20, 2009, one month shy of his 92nd birthday. He was born in Yakima, Wash., on May 22, 1917 to Harry W. Whitaker and Rachel Angelina Watson.

Aside from his Navy service during WWII, two years on Mercer Island in the 1960s, and the last two years when he lived in an adult family home in Bellevue, Mr. Whitaker lived his life in Yakima. He graduated from Yakima High School and Washington State College (now University) with a degree in engineering. He worked as a structural engineer for Valley Iron Works and Central Steel and Tank in Yakima and Leckenby Steel in Seattle. He served on the Yakima City Council and in leadership positions of professional and community organizations.

Mr. Whitaker was preceded in death by his wives, Mary Greenlee and Virginia Epps; brother, Howard Whitaker, and sister, Nancy W. Heatley Kurtz. He is survived by his four children, Judy Ginn (Rand), of Mercer Island; Bill (Suzie), of Anchorage, Alaska; Phyllis “Punky” Frisvold (Randy), of Addy, Wash.; Virginia “Deedee” Dean (Jim), of West Seattle; his grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.

A celebration of Mr. Whitaker’s life is tentatively scheduled for 2:30 p.m. on Tuesday, April 28, at Mercer Island Presbyterian Church. Please call the church to confirm the time.