John R. Whitlatch, Sr.

John Robert Whitlatch, Sr. age 76, of Gholson, passed away Monday morning, January 7, 2013 at Providence Healthcare Center in Waco. Funeral services will be held 2:00 p.m. Thursday at Aderhold Funeral Home in West, with Pastor Chris Silva officiating. Burial will follow at China Spring Cemetery. The family will receive visitors from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. on Wednesday at the funeral home. John was born January 31, 1936 in Phoenix, Arizona the son of John Resin and Louie Mae (Mitchell) Whitlatch. He attended schools in Arizona and graduated from Phoenix High School. John joined the United States Army and was stationed for three years in New Mexico, Nebraska and Washington State. On April 30, 1960, he was united in marriage to Maxine Mildred McKenney in Tacoma, Washington. She preceded him in death on October 13, 1987. He also attended the University of Washington where he received a Bachelor of Business Administration and received a Master of Divinity from the Western Conservative Baptist Seminary in Portland, Oregon. John was a Baptist Pastor for over 10 years and was a Dairy Farmer for more than 25 years in Utah, Oregon and in the China Spring area. He loved the outdoors, working as a dairy farmer and preaching the Bible. John was a member of the First Baptist Church in Gholson and enjoyed teaching Sunday school. He was founding pastor of the Grace Baptist Church in China Spring. John is preceded in death by his parents. Survivors include a daughter, Susan Ragsdale and husband Steve of Rockwall; four sons, John Robert Whitlatch, Jr. and wife Sandra of Robinson, James Whitlatch and wife Heather of The Colony, Joel Whitlatch and wife Katrina of Bend, Oregon, and Robert Whitlatch and wife Andrea of West; a brother, Ronald Whitlatch and wife Linda of Las Vegas; two sisters, Alice Whitlatch and Patricia Howell, both of Cottonwood, Arizona; ten grandchildren; one great-granddaughter; and many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. Active pallbearers are Willie Roy, John Whitlatch, Jr. James Whitlatch, Robert Whitlatch, and Joel Whitlatch. Honorary pallbearers are his grandchildren. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the charity of your choice.