Submitted by: Dan Rich

South Bend Tribune 7/8/2005

Elmer C. Whitteberry

March 14, 1921 -- July 5, 2005

Elmer Whitteberry, 84, was born in Stockwell, Indiana, to Wesley and Bertha May (Crose) Whitteberry, and was a lifelong resident of this area, residing in Osceola for many decades until his wife, Velma (Ross) passed away in the fall of 2003. He had two children who survive him, Dick (Pat) Whitteberry of South Bend and Pam (Joe) Kronewitter of Mishawaka. Elmer was fond of his grandchildren who also survive, Shani Buss of Phoenix, Arizona, Derek Whitteberry of New Carlisle, Sean Elli of Memphis, Tennessee, and Darci Elli of Honolulu, Hawaii. Also surviving are two brothers, Harold of Hoffman Estates, Illinois, and Gene of Walkerton, Indiana; and one sister, Helen Hanson of Fairborn, Ohio; along with four great-grandchildren.

His parents, two brothers, Dean and Robert, and a sister, Helen Hunt, preceded him in death.

Elmer served proudly in the Army Air Corps from 1942 to 1945, obtaining the rank of sergeant. He was especially pleased to receive the Certificate of Merit campaign medal in recognition of his service to his country. He married Velma in 1945 and was a gifted diesel and truck mechanic until retiring from his own business in 1983. Together, he and Velma lovingly cared for their vegetable and flower gardens throughout the years. They spent many summer weekends camping, visiting with family and friends, and especially enjoyed the outdoors. He disliked the cold, harsh winters in Michiana. After he retired, he always wanted to move to Phoenix where his oldest granddaughter lived, promising to get a job shoveling snow. Elmer was a voracious reader of books, newspapers and magazines. He spent countless hours in his "radio shack" on their Osceola property talking to people all over the world on his CB and Ham radios. He was primarily known as "Whitt" or "N9KWI" to his Ham radio buddies, and was enthusiastically involved in various clubs and organizations such as the International Baker Motel Sidebanders, the VHF World Sidebanders, and the Bi-County Radio Amateurs. Whitt had been active in the Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service (RACES) which provides emergency communications in the event of a disaster, and was a lifetime member of the American Radio Council.

Family and friends may pay their last respects at the Chapel Hill Funeral Home on McKinley Avenue in Osceola where a viewing was held on Thursday, July 7, 2005, from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. The service will take place in the funeral home chapel at 2:00 p.m. Friday, July 8, 2005, with burial at Chapel Hill Memorial Gardens.