Asa Lee Whitaker Jr., age 84, passed away peacefully on January 17, 2026, in Batesville, Arkansas. He was born in Knoxville, Tennessee, on September 5, 1941, to Asa Lee and Mary Ella Robinson Whitaker. He was a graduate of Karns High School, after which he attended the University of Tennessee, where he earned both Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Industrial Engineering. Asa married his high school sweetheart, Ann Lynette Gilmore, on July 9, 1960.
Asa was employed with the Eastman Chemical Company for 33 years. In 1974, Asa and his family moved to Batesville, Arkansas, to help lead the construction of a new Eastman Chemical Plant. Among his many accomplishments as the Quality Management Coordinator at Arkansas Eastman, Asa was privileged to work with then-Governor Bill Clinton to improve quality in state government. That effort led to Asa receiving the National Governors’ Award for Distinguished Service in 1991.
Asa was a man of great faith. He was a member of First United Methodist Church in Batesville, Arkansas. Not only serving in various leadership roles in his local church, but he was also a leader on the State, National and Global scale within the United Methodist Church, including service as a representative of the Arkansas delegation at the World Methodist Council in Seoul, Korea.
Asa loved God, spending time with his family, traveling across the world with Lynette, duck hunting, model trains, gardening, and the Tennessee Volunteers. Mostly, he loved life in general and cherished every adventure. Among his last adventures was a trip to Cuba for Mission work, the Holy Lands, and family trips to the beach.
Asa is preceded in death by his wife of 57 years and his parents. He is survived by his daughters, Amy Blaylock (Ray), Abby Barker (Roger); four grandchildren, Josh Blaylock (Erin), Hannah Lewis (Michael), Emma Stolarik (Kyler), and Lily Barker; six great-grandchildren, James, Isabelle and Olivia Blaylock, and Luke, Lydia and Leeland Lewis; a brother, Bobby Whitaker (Liz), as well as nieces and nephews.
Pallbearers are Lyndal Waits, Ron Lewallen, Michael West, Kyler Stolarik, Michael Lewis, and Josh Blaylock. Honorary pallbearers are Hannah Lewis, Emma Stolarik, and Lily Barker.
Funeral services will begin at 2:00 pm Thursday, January 22, 2026, at First United Methodist Church with Rev. Katie Pearce and Rev. Thomas Frase officiating. Burial will follow at Oaklawn Cemetery under the direction of Roller-Crouch Funeral Home.
Visitation will be held from 1:00 pm Thursday, January 22, 2026, until the service begins at the church.
Memorials may be made in his honor to First United Methodist Church Youth Ministry, 615 E Main Street, Batesville, AR 72501.
