Joe Lewis Whitver
Joe Lewis Whitver spent many years working for railroad companies, but more importantly, he spent decades loving his family.
Joe Whitver of Ephrata, Washington died Friday, April 26, 2024, at McKay Rehab and Health Care in Soap Lake, Wash. Joe was born Feb. 23, 1936, to Ray and Opal Whitver in Amboy, Ill.
After graduating from Lewis and Clark High School in Spokane, Washington, Joe went to work for the Great Northern Railroad. In 1957 Joe married Ruthanne Cydrus, the mother of his children: Joel, Matthew, Andrew, and Rebecca. Joe finished his career with the railroad in 1998 after going through three mergers and name changes from the Burlington Northern Santa Fe.
Joe was preceded in death by his parents, older sister Jean Wright, older brother Robert Whitver and stepson Mike Harvill.
He is survived by his younger sister, Laurel Guignard, his wife of 34 years, Neta, his children, three stepsons and their wives, 13 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
The family would like to express their gratitude for the care that Joe received from the staff at McKay. There will be a celebration of life service at the American Legion, 276 8th Ave NW, Ephrata, on Monday, May 13, at 2 p.m.
Those who knew Joe will know his feelings about the following:
“The Engineer’s Dilemma"
Author unkown
It's not my place to run the train,
the whistle I can't blow,
It's not my place to say how far
the train's allowed to go.
It's not my place to shoot off steam
nor even clang the bell.
But let the damn thing jump the track...
And see who catches HELL!