Desert Messenger

March 18, 2020 www.DesertMessenger.com 19 HURBERT WHITTAKER, 55 Hurbert Lee Whittaker, 55 of Charlevoix, Michigan, passed away unexpectedly Feb. 21, 2020 in Quartzsite, Arizona. Hurbert was born August 23, 1964 in Cam- bridge, Maryland to Herbert Whittaker and Mary Thompson (Whittaker) Collins. Growing up, Hurbert learned early on the importance of hard work, working along- side his parents who were migrant workers, traveling the country mostly between Flor- ida and Michigan. He attended Mt. Dora High School in Mt. Dora, Florida. For many years he was also a CENA in Northport and Traverse City. On October 8, 1990 he mar- ried the former Kim Leighton of Northport. Hurbert was a man of deep faith and was a member of Family of Faith church in Char- levoix and formerly Leelanau Community church. He and his wife, Kim, traveled to fairs and craft shows throughout Northern Michigan and Quartzsite, Arizona with their rock and mineral business; "No Stone Un- turned". He had a love for rocks and min- erals, especially the Petoskey Stone, but his true passion was for people. He never met a stranger, he was an encourager, motivator and had a smile that would light up a room. He is survived by his wife, Kim; children Elijah Terrel, Lynelle, Hubert, Marcus, Galen, AJ, Felicia Whittaker, and Elijah Shomin. Also surviving is his mother Mary Collins, siblings Rose, Herbert, Daron Whittaker, and Yolanda, Crystal and Mar- shall Collins and extended family member Charmaine Geeter. To his many grandchildren he was fondly known as "Papa Rock"! He was preceded in death by fathers, Herbert Whittaker and Marshall Collins, sister Felicia Whittaker, and daughter Jessica Brinkley. Funeral services will be held on Friday, March 13, 2020 at noon at the Central United Methodist Church in Traverse City. Visitation will be held at the church begin- ning at 11. A spring burial will be held at the Leelanau Township Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to the charity of choice. Funeral arrangements entrusted to the Covell Funeral Home of Traverse City. In Memoriam ELMER LONDON Elmer London passed on March 8, 2020 at the Veterans home in Lewiston, ID at the age of 97.5. He was born at Lyman, Washington on September 7, 1922 during a flood on the kitchen table where his mom Charolotte Wyatt almost died. His dad Fred London wasn't able to get home and never forgave his wife for letting her friend name him Elmer. Elmer was a great story teller. He loved to tell us about being a kid during the depres- sion. His grandparents moved from North Carolina with the family and built a saw mill in Skuget Valley in Washington state. When the depression hit, they lost the saw mill. So what does a tarheel do from the mountains of N. Carolina? He goes into the liquor business. When his grandpa had to make a delivery to the county seat, he would load all the grandkids in the care so the revenuers wouldn't suspect his intentions. Dad said they had a great time because they knew why they were with grandpa. When he was ten, his parents divorced and later his mom remarried to Robert Whitley. The first night she sent their new dad up the stairs to teach the boys who the new boss was by way of a spanking. He told them to holler as loud as they could, while be beat the bedpost. Elmer loved his stepdad. All the stories our dad told of growing up during the depression were never hard luck, always humorous. He said people didn't feel sorry for themselves; they just tried to make the best of it. He played sports, sang at church and on the radio. His parents moved out of the val- ley when he started high school to Belling- ham, WA. One day he was messing around in the hall and got in trouble with the hall monitor, Margaret Prather. They were mar- ried on October 16, 1942. When Pearl Harbor happened, Dad en- listed in the Army Airforce. He was in the 486; a gunner on B-17s and B-28s. He was stationed in Sudbury, about 40 miles from London. He flew 25 missions and went through four airplanes. When he left Eng- land he and my Mom lived in several ar- eas around the country, while Dad taught classes. After he was honorable discharged as a Staff Sargeant, he went to school to be a machinist. I can't write about our Dad without our Mom. Her family used to say, "Elmer and Margaret were never going to have kids and when they did, didn't know how to stop!" Steven (Maureen) was born February 18, 1946. Carolyn (Randy) was born on July 6, 1947. Leslie (Vinna) was born March 3, 1949 and Marrell (Erik) was born January 29, 1951. And his adopted daughter Caroll Roczkowski was born in May 1947. After Marrell was born the family moved to Redmond, WA. Dad managed a chain- saw sales and service store and also drove the school bus. When the store closed, he worked for fix-it shops, marinas, and drove bus. He worked six days a week. One evening, Dad & Mom set us kids down and told us about a job opening for a shop helper at the bus garage and Dad wanted to apply. The good news was that he would be home weekends and have a va- cation. The bad news was he wouldn't make as much money. We wanted him home, so that started the next phase of his life as he got the job. He started at Bellevue School District as a "grease monkey." Not too long after, he started the federal government included transportation as a right to an education program. This opened up opportunities for advancement to those who were interested. By the time he left the district, he had been driver trainer, safety office and supervisor of transportation. He was able to accom- plish these positions without a college edu- cation. By the time he attended the Univer- sity of Washington, he was the instructor! The State of Washington created seven po- sitions as coordinators for public transpor- tation and Dad was chosen for one of those positions. He loved his job. He wrote laws, developed standards, training courses and seminars. The programs he helped develop in 1960 are still in use today. In 1981 the State of Washington started of- fering early retirements and Dad fell under their criteria. Dad and Mom struggled with what to do as he loved his work so much. In the end he retired in December 1982. Dad and Mom bought a motorhome and hit the road. They traveled the US, Alaska, Mexico and Canada. His aunt and uncle wintered in Quartzsite. Dad and Mom had a good time, however, the area was very primitive, so off to Wickenburg they went. That's where the fun was and they never looked back. You couldn't ask for better grandparents. Elmer and Margaret had five; the oldest Troy Dawn (Brent) Lincoln, NE; Aaron (1973-2000); Miles (Bobbi) Meridian, ID; Mathew (Alberto) Canary Islands; Sara, Se- attle, WA. They took them on trips camp- ing. The weekends the kids headed to their house, as they had woods and motorcycles, with always things to do. Mom and Dad had taken a first aid course and when I picked up the kids, they had bandages everywhere with MercuroChrome for cuts and scrapes. How fun is that? Dad was always community minded. When we lived in Redmond, he was active in the annual Bicycle Derby, school events, and wherever needed. Dad loved a parade and every time he entered, he won the tro- phy. When they moved to Quartzsite, he got very involved. He helped to organize the first Hi Jolly Daze Parade. When Quartzsite was becoming a town, he was on boards and commissions. During the Byrd and Oldham days, he supported Oldham. I loved hearing the stories about Quartzsite. Of all the plac- es he lived, he loved Quartzsite the best. He belonged to the Quartzsite Veterans Assoc. (disbanded) and they did many community projects. He was active in the Quartzsite Improvement Assoc. (QIA), Se- nior Center, Historical Society, and served on the board of the Food Bank. He taught the Spanish class and his big love was the Amateur Radio Club (HAMs). He was in- strumental in fundraising to buy and main- tain a repeater for the Quartzsite Area. He wrote Just Ramblings for Desert Messenger for many years, sharing pearls of wisdom with Quartzsite readers. At age 82 he took the test for Amateur Ex- tra, the highest level with mostly math and he passed it with flying colors! KC7BUC is now a Silent Key. He was very gener- ous with his time and money and is sorely missed by the community. May 2015 Elmer was invited to go to Lon- don, England as part of commemorations to mark the 70th anniversary of Victory in Europe (VE) Day.. He is preceded by the love of his life, Mar- garet and beloved grandson Aaron. He leaves behind four children, nine grand- children, 29 great grandkids, and one great-great grandson. Dad did a lot of living in his 97 years on this earth. There will be a celebration of life in the fall when the threat of COVID-19 is over. Stay tuned; there is more to come!

• Cover