John R. "Jack" Whitman, age 75, of 1619 W Main Street Valley View, passed away Sunday, November 18th, 2007 at the Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center, Pottsville . He was born in Valley View, on January 15, 1932, a son of the late Ralph S and Pearl E (Laudenslager) Whitman. He was a 1949 graduate of the former Hegins Twp High School. He served in the U.S. Air Force. He was the owner of the former Whitman's Garage, Valley View. He was a former manager of the Hegins Twp Water Authority and was a former Auxiliary Police Officer for the Hegins Twp Police Department. He was currently employed by MI Windows and Doors of Gratz. He was a member of Friedens United Church of Christ, Hegins. He was a member and a former Fire Chief, and former Secretary of the Valley Fire Company. He was a member of American Legion Post 575 and VFW Post 8237 both of Valley View. He was also a member of Lykens Valley Camp No 4 of Mifflin County and the Valley View Gun Club. He enjoyed golfing and fishing. His wife Gloria J (Johnson) Whitman passed away October 18, 2006. He is survived by a son David L Whitman Sr. and his wife Starr of Sacramento, Pa.; a daughter Tammy L Heffner and her husband Dan of Pottsville; three grandsons David L Whitman, Jr. of Hegins, Chad J Whitman of Sacramento, Pa, and Daniel R Whitman of Pitman; a granddaughter Christy L Ney of Tremont; six great grandchildren Brendan Whitman, Brittanie Whitman, Jagger Whitman, Genesis Whitman, Derick Ney, and Paris Whitman; a brother William R Whitman of Mechanicsburg; and a sister Ruth Smeltzer of Pine Grove. A viewing was held from 6 to 8 p.m. on Friday, November 23rd, at the Buffington-Reed Funeral Home, Valley View. Services were private at the convenience of family at Buffington-Reed Funeral Home, Valley View, with Rev. Claude Schach officiating. Burial was made in Friedens Cemetery, Hegins. Memorial contributions can be made to Friedens United Church of Christ, P.O. Box 57, Hegins PA 17938 or to American Legion Post 575, P.O. Box 754. Valley View PA 17983. Condolences can be left for the family at www.buffingtonreed.com