Richard James Whitaker, 68, of Port Arthur, died November 27, 2013.  Born August 28, 1945, in Oneonta, New York, he was the son of Ruth Teal Whitaker and John Ogden Whitaker.  Richard was assistant director of the Port Arthur Public Library.

He is survived by his wife, Adelaide McGill of Galveston; sons, Nathan Whitaker of Minneapolis, Minnesota and Cullan Whitaker of Harpswell Center, Maine; daughters, Megan McGill of Galveston and Petra Blackwell of South Carolina; brothers, John Ogden Whitaker, Jr. of Indiana and William Whitaker of Oneonta, New York; and grandson, Martin McGill.

A memorial service for Mr. Whitaker will be 12:00 p.m., Saturday, December 7, 2013, at Broussard's Crematorium, 5150 Stivers Drive, Beaumont.  Arrangements are under the direction of Broussard’s, 505 North 12th Street, Nederland.

Memorial contributions may be made in Mr. Whitaker’s name to the Southern Poverty Law Center, 400 Washington Avenue, Montgomery, Alabama 36104 or to a charity of choice.