WHITMIRE,Robert Jefferson (Whit), 79, of Ruskin, FL, died Nov. 6, 2011.
Whit was the only child of Claude and Signa Lavender Whitmire. He was born two days before Thanksgiving on November 24, 1931, in Washington, D.C. He would have celebrated his 80th birthday on Thanksgiving Day.
He was a graduate of Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, popularly known as Virginia Tech, in Blacksburg, VA, where he majored in business. He was a member of the Naval Forces during the Korean Conflict, and was stationed in Bainbridge, MD. He worked as a Dental Corpsman during his stint in the Navy, and often thought he should have become a dentist instead of a businessman.
He spent a large majority of his working career with The Sperry & Hutchinson Company (S&H Green Stamps). He held numerous positions with S&H, but his final position was Regional Sales Manager in Edison, NJ. Because of his different positions with the company, he lived in various places, including Jacksonville, FL, Atlanta, GA, Keego Harbor, MI, and Highland Park, NJ.
He and his wife, Connie, moved to St. Petersburg, FL in 1980 where Whit bought a Spur Convenience Store and Gas Station on 4th Street and 28th Avenue North. He named it Whit's Spur and it was mainly known for having the best tomatoes in town. He kept that business over 10 years during a very tough economy, and after selling his business, he retired again and moved across the Big Bridge to Ruskin, FL.
Whit's main hobby and passion was golf. He loved the game, he played frequently and he was very knowledgeable about not only the rules but also all the professional players, both young and old. He was also very good at the game and even taught his wife how to play.
In order to be closer to the game he loved, he bought a house in 1992 on the ninth hole of The Golf Club at Cypress Creek so he and his wife could drive to the golf course in their own golf cart. He and his wife were members of The Golf Club at Cypress Creek over 13 years, where they played golf regularly. Toward the end of his golfing career, he often took his dog, Zebulon first and then Maggie, with him early in the morning so he could play a round in silence. He was a member of the Men's Golf Association at the golf club for many years, and was also a member of the County Golf Association in Pinellas County.
After 27 years on the waiting list, he finally obtained season's passes to The Masters in Augusta, GA, and he and his wife went to see that tournament for years. He made it a point to go to as many professional tournaments as he could, and went to the U.S. Open in Bethesda, MD in 1994. He attended three of the four major golf tournaments that are held, and it was his goal to go to the British Open so he could experience the "Grand Slam" in viewing.
He volunteered many years for the J.C. Penney Classic as well as the Senior's Tournament held in Tampa, and was also a starter for Isla Del Sol Golf Club in St. Petersburg for a number of years. One of his greatest joys was subscribing to the Golf Channel on television, and he spent many happy hours watching the various tournaments from all over the world, all in the comfort of his favorite lounge chair.
When playing golf became a chore, he decided to go back to work again. He became a Postal Carrier with the Wimauma Post Office, and worked there seven years. After the Post Office, he worked for the State of Florida as a tomato inspector, and then for the University of Florida Agriculture Center in Balm, FL as a seasonal agricultural plant inspector.
He is survived by his wife of 31 years, Connie Maxine Tiedeman Whitmire. He had two children, a daughter, Nancy Whitmire Sale (Donall) of Lynchburg, VA, two granddaughters, Kaitlyn Marie Sale of Charlottesville, VA and Amy Leigh-Ann Sale of Lynchburg, VA, and a son, Jay Whitney Whitmire, of Lynchburg, VA.
Private cremation arrangements have been made by Zipperer's Funeral Home. Condolences may be offered at www.zipperersfuneralhome.com . In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Care, Inc., a no-kill animal shelter located at 1528 27th St. SE, Ruskin, FL 33570, www.careshelter.org .
A memorial service will be held on Friday, November 25 from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at Calvary Lutheran Church, 5309 U.S. Highway 41 North, Apollo Beach, FL (across from MiraBay).