Robert Lee WHITAKER Nashville, TN Age 73 died suddenly on Friday, December 26, 2003. He was born in Memphis, TN, February 26, 1930. He is survived by his wife of 48 years, Glenda Pipkin Whitaker and three children, Glenda Jordan (John), Robert Lee Whitaker, Jr. (Heidee), and Mary Margaret Stanford (Don); eight grandchildren...; an aunt, Elizabeth Gaddy Smith, and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. He was preceded in death by his mother, Margaret Lee Whitaker Moore (2000), and his father, Bert Temple Whitaker (1947).
His faith and trust in his Savior, Jesus Christ, and love for his family were uppermost in his mind and the driving force of his life. Highly respected in the field of engineering structural design since 1955, Mr. Whitaker, Chairman Emeritus of Ross Bryan Associates, has been associated with major structural designs for the City of Nashville, including the Andrew Jackson Office Building, One Commerce Place, First Presbyterian Church, First Baptist Church, Harpeth Hills Church of Christ, and major buildings for Vanderbilt University and the University of Tennessee, including the Humanities Tower, Hodges Library, Thompson-Boling Arena, and the Jumbotron Sign Supports of Neyland Staduim. He was Engineer of the Year for the University of Tennessee in 1987. Mr. Whitaker had projects in other states, as well.
He was a specialist in prestressed concrete design and engineering investigative work. He was a fellow of the American Concrete Institute and a graduate of the University of Tennessee School of Engineering (1954), where he was an instructor for one year. Several of his projects were featured in the book of the American Institute of Architecture, Notable Nashville Architecture. A life member of the American Rose Society, Mr. Whitaker was a past president of the American Rose Society, 1991-1994, and was currently serving as a continuing board member and on national committee assignments. He was awarded the Gold Honor Medal in 2002, the highest award given to an individual by the American Rose Society. He was a member of the Nashville Rose Society for 44 years. He was currently serving as Editor of The Rose Leaf, a monthly journal and newsletter for rose enthusiasts throughout Middle Tennessee.
He authored many articles for other national publications, including the American Rose magazine of the American Rose Society. He and his wife, Glenda, were co-editors of the American Rose Annual in 1998. His rose garden of about 500 rose bushes of all types was a great pleasure in his life and was often open for public tours. He was instrumental in establishing rose gardens on the grounds of the Executive Residence of the Governor of Tennessee and historic Rippavilla Plantation in Spring Hill, TN.
Interment will be in a family plot at the Yorkville Cemetery, Gibson County, TN.
-- The Tennessean, 2003/12/28.
Robert Lee WHITAKER Nashville, TN Age 73 died suddenly on Friday, December 26, 2003. He was born in Memphis, TN, February 26, 1930. He is survived by his wife of 48 years, Glenda Pipkin Whitaker and three children, Glenda Jordan (John), Robert Lee Whitaker, Jr. (Heidee), and Mary Margaret Stanford (Don); eight grandchildren...; an aunt, Elizabeth Gaddy Smith, and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. He was preceded in death by his mother, Margaret Lee Whitaker Moore (2000), and his father, Bert Temple Whitaker (1947).
His faith and trust in his Savior, Jesus Christ, and love for his family were uppermost in his mind and the driving force of his life. Highly respected in the field of engineering structural design since 1955, Mr. Whitaker, Chairman Emeritus of Ross Bryan Associates, has been associated with major structural designs for the City of Nashville, including the Andrew Jackson Office Building, One Commerce Place, First Presbyterian Church, First Baptist Church, Harpeth Hills Church of Christ, and major buildings for Vanderbilt University and the University of Tennessee, including the Humanities Tower, Hodges Library, Thompson-Boling Arena, and the Jumbotron Sign Supports of Neyland Staduim. He was Engineer of the Year for the University of Tennessee in 1987. Mr. Whitaker had projects in other states, as well.
He was a specialist in prestressed concrete design and engineering investigative work. He was a fellow of the American Concrete Institute and a graduate of the University of Tennessee School of Engineering (1954), where he was an instructor for one year. Several of his projects were featured in the book of the American Institute of Architecture, Notable Nashville Architecture. A life member of the American Rose Society, Mr. Whitaker was a past president of the American Rose Society, 1991-1994, and was currently serving as a continuing board member and on national committee assignments. He was awarded the Gold Honor Medal in 2002, the highest award given to an individual by the American Rose Society. He was a member of the Nashville Rose Society for 44 years. He was currently serving as Editor of The Rose Leaf, a monthly journal and newsletter for rose enthusiasts throughout Middle Tennessee.
He authored many articles for other national publications, including the American Rose magazine of the American Rose Society. He and his wife, Glenda, were co-editors of the American Rose Annual in 1998. His rose garden of about 500 rose bushes of all types was a great pleasure in his life and was often open for public tours. He was instrumental in establishing rose gardens on the grounds of the Executive Residence of the Governor of Tennessee and historic Rippavilla Plantation in Spring Hill, TN.
Interment will be in a family plot at the Yorkville Cemetery, Gibson County, TN.
-- The Tennessean, 2003/12/28.
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