ARTHUR H. WHITMER

Palmer resident Arthur H Whitmer, 61, died Sept. 7, 2005, at Providence Alaska Medical Center, of a heart attack.

A private family gathering was held Sept. 10 in Palmer. Memorial donations may be made in Mr. Whitmer's name to the American Diabetes Association, P.O. Box 1131, Fairfax, VA 22038-1131 or www.diabetes.org.

Mr. Whitmer was born April 28, 1944, in Eagar, Ariz. He moved to Alaska in 1971 and lived in Anchorage. In 1983, he moved to Palmer. Mr. Whitmer worked for KPFF Consulting Engineers and Huseby Jacobs Engineers, both in Anchorage.

Mr. Whitmer opened up his own structural engineering firm in Anchorage in 1976, where he worked until his death. He was a member of the American Society of Civil Engineers, American Institute of Steel Construction and Alaska Chapter International Code council.

His primary job was his grandchildren and spending time with them.

His family wrote, "Arthur loved his work. He had a quirky sense of humor that may have surprised many of his fellow professionals. He loved God and his family deeply, and was his grandson's best friend. We will miss him dreadfully."

Mr. Whitmer is survived by his wife, Judy Whitmer of Palmer; daughter and son-in-law, Rebecca and John Brown of Ketchikan; son, Kyle Baltimore of Maryland; son and daughter-in-law, Todd and Tica Whitmer of Palmer; grandchildren, Titus and Taten Whitmer both of Palmer; sisters, Sylvia Wimmer and Nina Judge, both of Arizona, and brother, Larry Whitmer of New Mexico.

Arrangements were provided by Kehl's Palmer Mortuary.