Obituary for James Whitehill
James A. Whitehill, 74, of Erie, passed away on Friday, September 23, 2022.
He was born in Erie on May 3, 1948, a son of the late John and Marie (Herold) Whitehill.
Jim served in the United States Navy during the Vietnam War from 1967-1971, earning numerous honors and awards; and spent a career working as a machinist at GE Transportation in Erie for nearly 40 years before his retirement in 2008. He has enjoyed a lifetime of family, fishing and golf, and was a member of the Erie Works Golf League for many years. He was a member of St. Andrew Catholic Church in Erie.
He greatly enjoyed his role as “Papa” to his four grandchildren and was known for his colorful and abundant flower gardens. Over the past several years, Jim found great joy in taking evening drives around Presque Isle State Park with his wife, Pat.
In addition to his parents, James is preceded in death by his wife of 50 years, Patricia Whitehill, who also died on September 23, 2022; and a stepmother, Dona Whitehill.
He is survived by his children, Carl Whitehill (Kimberly) of Hanover, Pa., and Molly Mercer (Ryan) of Grove City, Pa.; four grandchildren, Renee and Landon Mercer, and Colin and Christian Whitehill; two brothers, John Whitehill III, of Clifton Park, N.Y., and Joseph (Janet) Whitehill, of Orefield, Pa.; and two sisters, Maria (Robert) Parisi and Maribeth Whitehill, both of Erie; five brothers-in-law, Peter (Sue) Bailey, of McKean, Pa., Michael (Lynnea) Bailey, Robert (Donna) Bailey, Joseph Bailey and Paul (Kathy) Bailey, all of Erie, and John (Darcie) Bailey, of North East, Pa.; four sisters-in-law, Martha (Dan) Drake, of Collins Center, N.Y., Margaret (John) Sontag, of Erie, Kathleen Bailey, of Rochester, N.Y., and Sarah Hudy, of Edinboro, Pa.; and numerous nieces and nephews, and great-nieces and great-nephews.
Friends may call on Friday at the Kloecker Funeral Home and Crematory, Inc. 2502 Sassafras St. Erie PA 16502 from 3 pm until 7 pm and are also invited to the prayer service at the funeral home on Saturday at 9:15am followed by the Funeral Mass at 10am at St. Andrew’s Church. Burial will be at Gate of Heaven Cemetery. Send condolences to www.Kloeckerfuneralhome.com.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Presque Isle Partnership, 301 Peninsula Drive, Erie, PA 16505 or www.discoverpi.com.
He was born in Erie on May 3, 1948, a son of the late John and Marie (Herold) Whitehill.
Jim served in the United States Navy during the Vietnam War from 1967-1971, earning numerous honors and awards; and spent a career working as a machinist at GE Transportation in Erie for nearly 40 years before his retirement in 2008. He has enjoyed a lifetime of family, fishing and golf, and was a member of the Erie Works Golf League for many years. He was a member of St. Andrew Catholic Church in Erie.
He greatly enjoyed his role as “Papa” to his four grandchildren and was known for his colorful and abundant flower gardens. Over the past several years, Jim found great joy in taking evening drives around Presque Isle State Park with his wife, Pat.
In addition to his parents, James is preceded in death by his wife of 50 years, Patricia Whitehill, who also died on September 23, 2022; and a stepmother, Dona Whitehill.
He is survived by his children, Carl Whitehill (Kimberly) of Hanover, Pa., and Molly Mercer (Ryan) of Grove City, Pa.; four grandchildren, Renee and Landon Mercer, and Colin and Christian Whitehill; two brothers, John Whitehill III, of Clifton Park, N.Y., and Joseph (Janet) Whitehill, of Orefield, Pa.; and two sisters, Maria (Robert) Parisi and Maribeth Whitehill, both of Erie; five brothers-in-law, Peter (Sue) Bailey, of McKean, Pa., Michael (Lynnea) Bailey, Robert (Donna) Bailey, Joseph Bailey and Paul (Kathy) Bailey, all of Erie, and John (Darcie) Bailey, of North East, Pa.; four sisters-in-law, Martha (Dan) Drake, of Collins Center, N.Y., Margaret (John) Sontag, of Erie, Kathleen Bailey, of Rochester, N.Y., and Sarah Hudy, of Edinboro, Pa.; and numerous nieces and nephews, and great-nieces and great-nephews.
Friends may call on Friday at the Kloecker Funeral Home and Crematory, Inc. 2502 Sassafras St. Erie PA 16502 from 3 pm until 7 pm and are also invited to the prayer service at the funeral home on Saturday at 9:15am followed by the Funeral Mass at 10am at St. Andrew’s Church. Burial will be at Gate of Heaven Cemetery. Send condolences to www.Kloeckerfuneralhome.com.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Presque Isle Partnership, 301 Peninsula Drive, Erie, PA 16505 or www.discoverpi.com.