Obituary of Helen L. Whitaker

Helen Whitaker of Carver, Mass. passed away April 13, 2025 at the age of 102. Graveside services will be conducted at the National Cemetery in Bourne, Mass.

Helen LaVonne Whitaker was born in Carrol, Iowa on August 16, 1922 to Clifford and Blaine Smith of Odebolt, Iowa. She grew up on  the farm near Odebolt, attending a country school. She graduated from Odebolt High School in 1940, having excelled in music and winning national honors playing the Marimba Xylophone.

She attended Iowa State teachers College and taught country school before moving to Los Angeles, California, where she attended the University of Southern California. She specialized in music and followed a successful career with the marimba, entertaining professionally throughout California. She also retired from 30 years with First Interstate Bank which later became Wells Fargo Bank.

Helen was a member of the Baptist Church. She also was a member of the Ladies Auxiliary for the Fleet Reserve Association, a Navy service organization for which her husband was an active member. She loved to travel and spending time with friends and family.

Helen is preceded in death by her husband Carl, her parents and her brother Raymond and sister-in-law Marlene Smith and her stepson Jim Morris.

She is survived by her daughter Patricia and son-in-law Kevin Richards of Carver, Mass. and step-son Carl, Jr. and Stephanie Whitaker of Seal Beach, Calif. Five grandchildren and four great grandchildren.

Arrangements  made by Shepherd Funeral Home in Carver.