Don and Jean Whitaker will celebrate their 70th wedding anniversary with a card shower. Cards may be sent to the couple at 1501 Inverness Drive, Apt. 22, Lawrence, KS 66047.
Don Whitaker and Jean Allen were married Aug. 27, 1939, at Jean’s mother’s home, outside of Ottawa.
Both Don and Jean graduated from Ottawa University in 1939. After the wedding they moved to western Kansas, where Don taught school and coached at Selden and Plains high schools. During World War II, Don was in civil service working for the U.S. Army in radio schools in Belleville, Ill. and Sioux Falls, S.D. Following the war, Don taught and coached at Tonganoxie High School until he went to work for a farming implement firm in Ottawa. In 1955, the family moved to Lawrence, where Don bought partial ownership in an International Harvester dealership. Later he worked for John Haddock Ford (now Laird Noller Ford) until his retirement. Both Don and Jean belonged to First United Methodist Church and University Club. Don was also a member of the Kiwanis Club.
They have two daughters, Nancy Fabrizio and husband Frank, Denver, and June Cummings and husband Steve, Lawrence; seven grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren.