Final Salute

William F. Whitmire, 77, of 20 Scammell Avenue, Pittsfield, died Monday, February 10, 2014, at his home.
Born in Pittsfield on December 9, 1936, a son of the late Jerry and Anna M. Farrell Whitmire, he was educated in Pittsfield schools and was a 1954 graduate of St. Joseph Central High School where he was an outstanding athlete and baseball player.
A Viet Nam War veteran, Mr. Whitmire enlisted with the United States Navy on May 13, 1968
Served much of that time overseas, and was honorably discharged on April 29, 1969. He was awarded the National Defense Service Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal with Combat Operations Insignia, and
Vietnam Campaign Medal with Device
Mr. Whitmire was a master electrician by trade for fifty years. He was a member of the Inter-national Union of Electric Workers and was employed by R.A. Wilson Electric in Dalton. During that time, he worked on a number of projects, including installing lights at Wahconah Park and Brodie Mountain Ski Resort, and did electrical work during construction at Vicon Recovery. Following his retirement from the electrical trades, he worked at Stop & Shop on Dan Fox Drive from 1995 until 2010.
Mr. Whitmire was a communicant of St. Charles Church.
An avid golfer, he was a member of the Skyline Country Club and the Berkshire Hills Country Club. He also enjoyed hunting and fishing, and playing in pitch leagues with his wife.
Mr. Whitmire’s wife, the former Gloria R. Quinlan, whom he married May 7, 1955, in St. Mark
Church, died September 6, 2011.
He is survived by a son, William M. Whitmire of California; four daughters, Darlene M. Bonacquisti and her husband, Ronald, of Pittsfield, Nancy A. Luczynski and her husband, Daniel, of Pittsfield, Sandra J. Whitmire of Pittsfield, and Mary Ellen Whitmire-Rahilly of Pittsfield; a sister, Carol
Striebel of Dalton; as well as eleven grandchildren, Matthew Whitmire, Jessica Marie Whitmire, Amy M. Bonacquisti, Erin L. Monti, Jaclyn C. Bonacquisti, Derick W. Carlson, Travis P. Carlson, Kori Whitmire Blackwell, Kaitlyn M. Blackwell, Zachary T. Rahilly, and Parker J. Rahilly, four great grandchildren, Olivia C. Monti, John L. Monti, Kaelynne A. Carlson, and Mason P. Carlson, and many nieces and nephews.
He was pre-deceased by a brother, Jere Whitmire.

FUNERAL NOTICE:
Funeral services for William F. Whitmire will be held Tuesday, February 18, at 10:30 a.m., from
DERY FUNERAL HOME with a Liturgy of Christian Burial at 11:00 a.m, at St. Charles Church celebrated by
Rev. Michael Lillpopp, Parochial Vicar. Burial with Naval honors will follow in St. Joseph’s Cemetery. Calling hours will precede the service beginning at 9:30. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Soldier On in care of DERY FUNERAL HOME, 54 Bradford Street, Pittsfield.