Donis Whitaker
Donis Ilene (Iauch) Whitaker, age 85, of Charlotte, Michigan and Brownsville, Texas, died in Webster, Texas on April 8, 2024.
She was born in Eaton County Michigan in 1939. Her parents were Harold Milford Iauch and Mildred E. (Gould) Campbell Iauch. Donis met the love of her life, George W. Whitaker, when she was just 17 years old. After graduating from Charlotte High School in 1957, she attended Western Michigan University.
Excited to start their new lives together, Donis and George were married at Lawrence Avenue United Methodist Church in Charlotte on June 27, 1959. Their first child, Julie Irene Whitaker, was born in 1960 while Donis was attending Michigan State University. She received her bachelor’s degree in elementary education in 1961 and started teaching in Charlotte.
Tamara Ilene Whitaker was born in 1963. Donis worked towards her master’s degree, which she received in 1965 from Michigan State University. Their third child, Eric George Whitaker was born in 1968. Donis and George enjoyed weekend camping and summer vacation trips in their RV with their family.
Donis was a member of the teacher honorary, Delta Kappa Gamma, and had a lifetime membership in the National Education Association as well as the Michigan Education Association.
After 30 years of teaching in Charlotte, Donis retired in 1991 and she and George moved to River Bend Resort in Brownsville, Texas to be closer to their children and grandchildren, who resided in the Houston area. Donis enjoyed making greeting cards, scrapbooking, quilting and various other crafts.
After George’s sudden passing in October 2023, Donis moved to a senior apartment community in Webster, Texas where she was near her daughter, Tamara. She will be greatly missed, and her memory will live on in the hearts of all those who knew and loved her.
Donis is survived by her three children, two grandchildren, one great-grandchild, two sisters and one brother. She is reunited in heaven with her loving and devoted husband, her parents, one sister and two brothers.
Burial of cremains will be at Maple Hill Cemetery in Charlotte later in 2024. Date to be determined.