Mary E. (Gosbee) Whitaker

Mary E. Whitaker of Ithaca passed away on Tuesday, October 8, 2024 at the age of 94.

Mary was born in Genoa in Cayuga County on December 2, 1929, the second daughter of the late Gordon A. and Jessie (Boles) Gosbee. Mary had several different jobs during her career which all centered around her desire to interact with children. She was proud to hold the title of the first female bus driver working for the Trumansburg School District for many years. She decided to go back to school as a mature student to get her certification to work for the Head Start program in Trumansburg, however some of her best stories were from when she was a truant officer for Charles O’Dickerson High School. Mary also hosted many foster children in addition to her regular jobs and built several fond lifelong relationships with them. Mary met her husband, Roger, while working the soda fountain at a “Five and Dime” store, Kresge’s, in Ithaca. It seems Roger came in everyday as he had a keen eye on a girl behind the counter. Mary was wed to Roger in August 1948 and they celebrated 63 years of marriage before cancer took Roger.

Most of all Mary loved square dancing and together with her husband danced all over the United States including many weekly dances in Florida and New York state.

Mary is survived by her children, Ronald (Sharon) Whitaker, Gordon (Susan) Whitaker, Sharon (Lawrence) Weaver, and Robin (William) Chrysafides; 11 grandchildren, Robert (Michelle Malta) Whitaker, Sara (Kevin) Brister, Justin (Christina) Whitaker, Eben (Christine) Whitaker, Devan (Kristin) Whitaker, Brennan (Christopher) Bush, Tara (Chris) Bubble, Todd Weaver, Tristen (Joe) Ross, Dilan (Kayleigh) Chrysafides, and Jessica (Fred) Bergeman; many great grandchildren; and nephew, Mike Kalina. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Roger in 2012; a son, Thomas Whitaker; and a sister, Elma Beeson.

A Celebration of Mary’s Life will be announced at a later date.

If you so choose memorial contributions can be made in Mary’s name to, Jacksonville Community Methodist Church, PO Box 244, 1869 Trumansburg Road Jacksonville, New York 14854 or Habitat for Humanity of Tompkins and Cortland Counties, 95 Brown Rd, Suite 221, Ithaca, NY 14850.