Harry T. Whipker

Harry Talley Whipker, 101, of Columbus, passed away on Wednesday, January 21, 2026, at his home. He was born April 2, 1924, in Columbus, Indiana, the son of Elmer John Karl Whipker Sr. and Goldie “Beryl” (Talley) Whipker. Harry graduated from Columbus High School and was a longtime member of First Christian Church. He proudly served his country in the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II as a tail gunner on a B-24 bomber, the Impatient Lady, and was stationed overseas in Kunming, China. Harry married Eileen Lavera (Hull) Whipker in 1946, and she passed away in 1961. They had one child, Joseph William “Joe Bill” Whipker. He later married Shirley “Joann” (Foust) Whipker in 1965, and she passed away in 2009. Harry retired from Cummins Engine Company, where he worked in the gauge lab and served as a foreman. In addition to his career at Cummins, he was a lifelong farmer who raised a variety of crops, including green beans and blackberries. He especially enjoyed mentoring the young people who worked alongside him. Harry and Joann spent nearly 30 winters fishing at Toledo Bend Reservoir near Many, Louisiana, where they welcomed family and friends and enjoyed evenings filled with card games and dominoes. He also enjoyed woodworking, listening to Cincinnati Reds baseball, and, in his younger years, hunting raccoons and pheasants. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, January 29, 2026, at First Christian Church, 531 5th St., Columbus, IN 47201, with Milo Smith officiating. Calling hours will be from 12:30 p.m. Thursday until service time at the church. Burial will be held at Daugherty Cemetery, with military honors provided by the Bartholomew County Veterans Honor Guard. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to First Christian Church. Survivors include his grandchildren, Kristopher Joseph (Genay) Whipker of Columbus, IN, and Jennifer Eileen (Darren) Davis of Columbus, IN; great-granddaughter, Coleen Faye Davis; brother, Alan (Karen) Whipker of Columbus, IN; and his four-legged companion, Talley. Harry was preceded in death by his parents, Elmer and Beryl Whipker; his first wife, Eileen Whipker; his second wife, Joann Whipker; his son and daughter-in-law, Joe Bill and Donna Whipker; brothers, Herschel Whipker, Halford Whipker, Perry Don Whipker, Paul Whipker, David Whipker, Bennie Whipker, and Elmer Whipker Jr.; and sisters, Elizabeth McKinney and Margaret Volland. The family would like to extend a special thank you to his caregivers, Mildred, Vanessa, Grace, Lusa, Sku, and Gwendoline. Arrangements were entrusted to Jewell-Rittman Funeral Service and Crematory.