Dr. James Orton Whitmer, Senior, was born June 2, 1914 in Zanesville Ohio.  He was the third of four children born to J.D. Whitmer and Ruby Colbert. The Whitmer family moved around a lot and Jim lived in a number of towns throughout Ohio and Michigan.

Jim graduated from Palmer College of Chiropractic in 1935.  He practiced several  years before Uncle Sam called him to duty.  Jim served as a Staff Sargent X-ray Tech in the Army Air Corp stationed in Childress, Texas.  It was there that he met, fell in love and married Mina M. Thaten on May 22, 1943.  In January 1945, James Jr. was born.  After the war, Dr. Jim and Mina moved to Ohio to resume his Chiropractic profession.  They eventually moved to Michigan where daughter Vicki Diann and son Kim Thaten were born.  Dr. Jim served his profession and provided exceptional healthcare to his patients for more than 35 years.

Not one to be idle, after retirement Dr. Jim joined son Kim in the Whitmer Building Services corporation.  Over the next 20 years Dr. Jim and Kim did numerous remodeling and construction projects….all just because he "liked to keep busy".  Dr. Jim loved animals and they loved him.  Every stray or abandoned animal knew they could find a kind word, a loving touch and plenty to eat at the Whitmer household.

Dr. James Whitmer Sr. is preceded in death by his parents, his two brothers, William and John Colwit and sister June Rose.  Mrs. Mina (Thaten) Whitmer left this life on June 5, 1977.

Dr. Jim is survived in death by his three children, Dr. Jim Jr., Vicki and Kim;  four grandchildren -James Whitmer III of Wichita Falls, Jason Patrick Whitmer of Denton, Rosemary Mina Whitmer of Aubrey and Dr. Mina Kim (Whitmer) Miller of Long Beach, Mississippi; Six great grandchildren - Jamie Lee, James IV and Gavin Wyatt  Whitmer of Wichita Falls, Joshua James Faulkner of Coyle, Oklahoma, Grayson James of Aubrey and soon-to-arrive, Lochlan Miller of Long Beach; niece Janice Adams, of Sylva , NC, nephews Dennis Whitmer of Phoenix, AZ and Dr. David Stalker of Woodland, CA. and many more beloved relatives.

In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Krum United Methodist Chuch-Building Fund  (P.O.Box 266, Krum, Tx.  76249) or the Humane Society of North Texas (1840 E. Lancaster, Ft. Worth, Tx.  76103).

Funeral Service will 10:00 am Friday August 1, 2008 at the Krum United Methodist Church, 310 West McCart  St.  Krum, Texas. Burial will be 4:00 pm Friday August 1, 2008 at the Childress Cemetery, Childress, Texas.  The Rev. Dr. Christy Thomas will officiate the service.

Visitation will be 7 to 8 pm Thursday July 31, 2008 at Mul;key-Mason Jack Schmitz and Son Funeral Home.

Dr. Jim will be deeply missed by his family, his friends and all God's creatures.