J. L. Whitmire (Tulia)

J. L Whitmire, of Tulia went to be with the Lord on Thursday, December 29, 2011 at Odyssey Hospice in Amarillo. Memorial services will be held 2:00pm, Monday, January 2, 2012 at First Baptist Church of Tulia. Rev. Jason Stone and Rev. Charles Davenport officiating. Interment will be at Parklawn Memorial Gardens in Plainview under the care of Kornerstone Funeral Directors of Tulia. J.L. was a member of First Baptist Church of Tulia. He was a member of the Veteran’s of Foreign Wars. He served on Swisher County Farm Bureau Board for 5 years, Mid Plains Rural Telephone Board for 24 years, and he helped establish the Golden Spread Farmers Market in Amarillo and served as president of that organization for a number of years until his health prevented him from farming. J. L. Whitmire was born November 30, 1923 in Coryell County, Texas to John Lewis and Clara Whitmire. J. L. Moved to Circle Back, Texas with his brother A.C. He then moved to San Diego California in 1940 and worked at Consolidated Aircraft. He was transferred back to Texas to the plant at Fort Worth. World War II interrupted any plans he had and he was drafted into the Air Force. J. L. served the United States during the war as an engineer and gunner on a B-17 and was stationed outside of London, England. He was a member of the 322nd Bomb Squadron. He flew 35 missions over Germany. He was honorably discharged as a Technical Sergeant in July, 1945. After being discharged from the service J. L. did custom wheat harvesting with his brother. J.L. and Mildred Damron began their life together as husband and wife on December 7, 1947. After their marriage, J.L. ran a Sinclair service station at Kress for three months. They moved to Dalhart and farmed for three years. They moved back to this area in 1951 and started farming and ranching. J.L. and Mildred were married for 64 years. He is survived by his wife Mildred, daughter and son-in-law Jayleen and Garry Wilfong of Tulia and daughter Dianne Whitmire of Amarillo. He is also survived by grandchildren Craig and Buffy Wilfong of Amarillo and Vicki and Andrew Bevly of Lubbock and three great grandchildren Kenna Wilfong, Rhett Wilfong and Kathryn Bevly. He was preceded in death by his parents John Lewis and CLara Whitmire and stepmother Zona Whitmire, two sisters Myrtle Smithers, Ethel Newton and one brother A.C. (Clif) Whitmire. The family suggests memorials to First Baptist Church of Tulia.