CHICOPEE ~ Stanley R. “Stan” Whitacre, 79, of the Fairview section of Chicopee, was Called Safely Home on Tuesday, April 24, 2018. He passed into Eternal Life at Mercy Medical Center in Springfield surrounded by the care and comfort of his loving family. He was born in Canton, Ohio on January 30, 1939, a beloved son of the late Carlton B. and Mary B. (Warner) Whitacre. He was raised in Canton, attended Canton schools and moved to Chicopee in 1960 where he lived in the Aldenville section of Chicopee for many years before moving to Fairview in 2014. He served his country in the United States Air Force and attained the rank of Airman Second Class. He was employed for 42 years at Sonoco Products in Holyoke and retired as a Quality Control Technician. Active in his faith, Stan was a longtime member of LifePoint Church in Chicopee where he enjoyed singing in the choir for over 35 years. An avid sportsman, he enjoyed golfing, fishing and playing softball. He coached youth sports in Holyoke for many years. Stan was a die-hard Ohio sports fan and loved all Ohio sports teams including his Cleveland Browns and The Ohio State University teams. Above all, Stan loved spending time with his family and his many friends. Stan leaves his beloved wife and best friend, Diane L. (LaBonte) Whitacre. They were married on June 25, 1960 at Immaculate Conception Church in Holyoke and were blessed with over 57 years of happiness together. Stan also leaves his three loving sons, Brian K. Whitacre and his wife, Debra, of Chicopee, LifePoint Church Senior Pastor Kevin J. Whitacre and his wife, Marylou, of Granby, and Christopher A. Whitacre of Springfield; his six cherished grandchildren, Ashley Whitacre, Heather Kofidis and her husband, Nicholas, Cory Whitacre, Matthew Whitacre and his wife, Lindsey, Jacob Whitacre and Emily Whitacre; his cherished great-grandson, Anthony Kofidis; his two dear sisters, Yvonne Gibson and Nancy Taylor, both of Canton, OH; his two dear brothers-in-law, George LaBonte and his wife, Cheryl, of Lake Alfred, FL and Robert J. LaBonte and his wife, Cheryl, of Melbourne, FL; his three dear sisters-in-law, Suzanne M. Beaumier of Chicopee, Elaine T. Kotfila and her husband, Robert, of Easthampton and Denise D. Provost and her husband, Dennis, of Chicopee; and his many dear nephews, nieces, cousins, friends and extended members of the Whitacre and LaBonte families. His family will receive friends on Monday, April 30, 2018 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the St. Pierre – Phaneuf Fairview Chapels, (413-533-3307), 506 Britton Street, Chicopee, MA 01020. The funeral home parking lot is located at the rear. Family and friends are invited to attend his Funeral Service on Tuesday, May 1, 2018 at 10:30 a.m. at LifePoint Church, 603 New Ludlow Road, Chicopee, MA 01020. His Committal Service with United States Air Force Military Honors will follow the Funeral Service at 1 p.m. in the Chapel at the Massachusetts Veterans’ Memorial Cemetery, 1390 Main Street, Agawam, MA 01001. For those who prefer and in lieu of flowers, his family requests that memorial donations be made in Stan’s memory to LifePoint Church, 603 New Ludlow Road, Chicopee, MA 01020. For more details, please visit: www.stpierrephaneuf.com
