Janella Sue Whittaker

Janella Sue Whittaker, 52 of Greencastle, passed away Sunday, March 14, 2010 at her residence.

Born March 30, 1957 in Greencastle, she was the daughter of Gerald L. and Dorothy J. Cress Edwards. She was a 1975 graduate of South Putnam High School and attended Indiana State University. She married Dean Whittaker ,and he survives.

Janella had worked at retail stores in the area and was an accomplished seamstress and florist. In her youth, she was a 10-year 4-H member and as an adult she particularly enjoyed her volunteer work for the 4-H Horse and Pony Club. She was a member of the Sherwood Christian Church; American Quarter Horse Association; and the Indiana Quarter Horse Association.

Survivors include her husband Dean Whittaker; daughter Dessa Frank and husband Rob of Greencastle; son Ryan Sears and wife Emily of Germantown, Md.; parents Gerald and Dorothy Edwards of Greencastle; in-laws Marlyn and Sue Whittaker of West Cliffe, Colo.; brother Tracy Merkel of Louisville; sister Carla Padgett and husband Landon of Ennis, Mont.; grandsons Ian and Elijah Frank of Greencastle; uncle Connie Cress and wife Betsy of Ft. Myers, Fla.; godparents Gene and Alice Beck of Bainbridge; nephew Ben Worthington of Ennis; and several good friends including, Valerie Buchanan, Lisa Davis, and Pam Foxx.

She was preceded in death by her grandparents Tom and Dessie Cress; Paul Edwards and Woody and Dorothy Sutherlin.

Memorial services will be held at 7 p.m. Thursday at the Sherwood Christian Church, 600 Kirkwood Dr. Greencastle, with the Rev. Jim Staggers officiating. Friends may call at the church from 4 p.m. until time of service.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Sherwood Christian Church; Putnam County 4-H Scholarship Fund; or the Janella Whittaker Memorial Fund c/o North Salem State Bank.

Condolences may be shared with the family c/o hopkinsrector.com.