Funeral services for Mr. Alwin Biggs "Sonny" Whitaker, age 79, of the Rehobeth Community in Panola County, TX, will be held at 2 p.m. on Saturday, March 12, 2011, at Jimerson-Lipsey Funeral Home Chapel with Bro. Freddy Mason and Rev. Jack McMahon officiating. Interment will follow in Rehobeth Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 5-7 p.m. on Friday at the funeral home. Mr. Whitaker passed away on Wednesday afternoon, March 9, 2011, in Longview.

Alwin Biggs "Sonny" Whitaker was born on Jan. 14, 1932, in the Rehobeth Community of Panola County, TX to Amos Alwin and Minnie Mae Biggs Whitaker. He graduated from Carthage High School with the class of 1951. After graduation, Sonny joined the U.S. Navy where he served honorably during the Korean War and was a member of the Admiral's Band. He graduated from Panola College with an Associate's Degree and transferred to Stephen F. Austin State University where he earned a Bachelor of Business Administration in 1957. While at S.F.A., he served as president of the student government and was a charter member of Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity. Mr. Whitaker was a life member of the S.F.A. Alumni Association where he and his brother established the Whitaker Brothers Scholarship. On Nov. 4, 1957, he married Patty Lew Easley in Starkville, Mississippi. He worked as the Senior Tax Agent for Panhandle Texas Eastern until his retirement in 1989, after 32 years. While at Texas Eastern, he was nominated for the Outstanding Volunteer of the Year Award and in Dec. of 1988, he was awarded the Volunteer of the Month award. Sonny was a member of the Panola County Chamber of Commerce where he served as an Ambassador, the Carthage I.S.D. Education Foundation, and the Carthage Noon Lions Club. He was a member of the Panola College Alumni Association where he has served as President and in 2004, was honored as the Panola College Alumni of the Year. In 2005, he was honored with the S.F.A. Distinguished Alumni Award. In his earlier years, he was a member of the SPEBSQSA Barber Shop Chorus. Sonny lived most of his life in the Rehobeth Community and was a member of the Rehobeth United Methodist Church where he was a former member of the choir. Mr. Whitaker's great-grandparents donated the land for the Rehobeth Church and Cemetery. He was preceded in death by his parents.

Mr. Whitaker is survived by his wife of 53 years, Patty Whitaker of the Rehobeth Community; one daughter, Joanna Terral and husband Terry of Longview; one brother, Lynn Travis Whitaker and wife Linda of LaQuinta, CA; one grandson, Joshua Michael Barron of Spearsville, LA; one aunt, Huelitt Cariker of Carthage; three sisters-in-law, Virginia Pope, Ollie Nolean "Pete" Perkins and husband Oscar, and Sharon Joy Brown and husband Charles; one brother-in-law, Dennis Easley and wife Beverly; two nephews, Dustin Whitaker and Danny Whitaker and wife Carrissa; and one great-nephew, Tyler Whitaker. Numerous cousins and many friends also survive Mr. Whitaker.

The family would like to extend a special thanks to the staff and nurses of The Clairmont Longview. They would also like to thank Mr. Whitaker's family and friends for the visits, cards, and prayers during his illness.

Serving as pallbearers are Scott Stilson, Josh Barron, Robert Earl Smith, Van Patterson, Warren Biggs, Brett Biggs, Jerry Hanszen, and James Browning.

Serving as honorary pallbearers are the members of the Carthage Noon Lions Club.

The family requests memorials be made to the S.F.A. Alumni Assn., c/o Whitaker Bros. Scholarship, P.O. Box 6096, SFA Station, Nacogdoches, TX 75962.

A guestbook may be signed online at www.jimerson-lipsey.com.