Greg Whitaker

Greg Whitaker of Blackey died October 13, 2025 at the Greg and Noreen Hospice Center in Hazard. He was 72 years four months and 21 days old. He was preceded in death by his father Stewart Whitaker. He is survived by his mother Frances, sister Sandra Wright, and his wife of 51 years Margaret. Nieces and nephew include Stewart
Cowden, Charles Cowden, Katie Owens and Brooke Dunn.

Also surviving are 1 uncle, Larry Whitaker, and 2 aunts, Betty Ann Eldridge and Glenna Caudill.

He was born on June 22, 1953, at Mount Mary Hospital in Hazard. He graduated from Corbin High School and attended the University of Kentucky. His first job was digging graves at Vicco at 12. He worked as a bagger and butcher, and manager of A&P Stores, IGA, Save a Lot for 25 years six days a week. The last 20 years of his life he was a regional manager of Prairie Farms Ice Cream.

He was a pastor for the United Presbyterian Church for over 20 years then switched to the Evangelical Presbyterian church for another ten years. He pastored many small churches in Drift, Dry Hill, and Wooton in the lay ministry program.

He loved cats and probably cared for and loved as many as 30 over his lifetime. He had a green thumb and gardened and kept alive a Ficus fig tree for over 50 years shuffling it outside in summer and inside in winter. He enjoyed building and flying remote control airplanes and helicopters and traveling.

He had a special relationship for over 40 years with Sam and Nancy Oaks and their children Matt and Samantha (Natalie), Warren and Gail Roark, and their children Adam and Tami , Ronnie and Linda Maggard.

Special memories also include Anita and Gary Jones and their son Christopher, George and Ann Helton and their daughters Cindi and Sarah, and Mike and Carol Parker of Winchester and their son Austin.

Visitation will be at Letcher Funeral Home 10:00 to 12:00. Funeral to follow at 12:00 on Thursday, October 16, 2025. Burial at Solomon Whitaker Cemetery at Blackey. In lieu of flowers donations to Bluegrass Navigators is suggested at 57 Dennis Sandlin MD Cove Hazard, Ky 41701

Services will be conducted by Bill Jones and graveside services by Merle Caudill. Special music by Arthur Christon.