David E. Whitmore

Obituary David Eldon Whitmore, age 61, resident of Morehead City, died on April 29, 2020, at Carolina East Medical Center in New Bern. David, who always preferred and answered every phone call with "DW here!" loved water and the ocean. He lived and breathed sailing, fishing (especially in red fish season), oystering along the deep, rich marshland on the outskirts of Morehead City David was born in Ashland. Ohio on Aug. 25, 1958 where he attended most of his public school years. He graduated from Monroe, OH High School, the community where his father had been city manager. When he was a very young man David served in the U.S Navy, stationed at Pensacola, FL and living along the gulf coast. It was there he developed a love of sea food and even worked part-time in the kitchen of a busy and popular coastal seafood restaurant. It was there his dream of one day owning his own catfish restaurant began. When he returned to Morehead City to be closer to his parents (who had retired there from Ohio) he kept the dream alive, but was never able to make it a reality. His son, Hunter, says his dad was an excellent cook. He reveled in transporting friends and visiting family in his boat to Shakleford Banks to swim, shell, and watch the wild horses roam free. When he was not fishing or playing on the water, David and his father, Robert E Whitmore spent countless (seriously countless) hours scouring local flea markets, thrift stores, and antique stores (Reggie & Mary's a favorite). Both men shared a passion and thrill of the hunt for that "rusty gold" and vintage treasure. The two accumulated so much they finally opened a sales space at one of the largest flea markets in the area. In addition to his family, antiques, and the ocean, David loved, loved animals and his pets He was especially close to "Babe" his long-time Labrador buddy. Some time after Babe was hit by a car and killed on Bridges Street near his home, Frazier, the Jack Russell terrier joined the family Countless cats and kittens were never turned away turned away from Dave's back door or heart. As a teen in Ashland Ohio, David even had a horse he loved and cared for. Her name was Jenny. In spare hours throughout the years, Dave was an avid reader of military history and collected "stacks" of now dusty books he had read over and over again He loved cars of all sorts and ages, vintage and newer, just so he could do some "tinkering" His property was seldom without a car "in progress" Most of all, David loved, adored, and cared for his young son, Hunter. Father and son have been nearly inseparable for the 22 years of Hunter's life. those two decades, David's life was all about his son and they were, and are, devoted to one another. Hunter's loving father and our little brother left this Earth far too soon. For two decades he was a Morehead City businessman, owner and manager of SteamVac, a residential and business carpet cleaning service. Following the sale of his business, he was employed a number of years by Clegg's Termite & Pest Control in Morehead City David E. Whitmore is survived by his loving son, Hunter, also of Morehead City, and a daughter, Celeste of New Bern, NC.; brother, Robert Brooks Whitmore and his wife, Jennifer, of Ashland, OH; sister, Connie Whitmore Cartmell and her husband, Ohlen P. Cartmell, of Marietta, OH; numerous nieces and nephews, cousins, and several adult step children. Preceding him in death are his beloved parents, Robert E. and Eleanor Getsey Whitmore, who lived in Pine Knoll Shores and Morehead City in nearly 25 years of retirement. Because of these unprecedented times, a funeral service for David will be held in Ashland, Ohio, where he will be buried in the family burial grounds at a later date when family and friends are better able and permitted to travel. Services You can still show your support by sending flowers directly to the family, or by planting a memorial tree in the memory of David E. Whitmore