Edgar B. Whitaker (K2DLL), formerly of Hop City Road, passed away Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2008 at Saratoga Hospital.

Born July 19, 1930 in Glens Falls, he was the son of the late Leroy and Nellie Whitaker. Ed worked for Western Auto in Ballston Spa for 30 years. He later was a purchasing agent for Northern Industrial and retired as a computer parts clerk for MTI in Albany.

Ed was an avid ham radio operator. He was a member of the Army MARS, Quarter Century Wireless Club and formed the RACES Club of Saratoga in 1952. He was a civil defense airplane spotter in the 1940s. He also enjoyed bowling. He was an advocate for prostate cancer and served on the National Prostrate Cancer Support Group Registry as a counselor.

He was predeceased by his daughter, Diane S. Whitaker.

He is survived by his wife, Alice E. Whitaker; two daughters, Terry Cornick and her husband, Jim, of Queensbury and Kathy Palmateer and her husband, Russ, of Saratoga Springs; three stepchildren, Linda Ryan of Nashua, N.H., Brenda Jarrell of Zachary, La. and Sherri Weber of New Britain, Conn.; a sister, Frances Miller and her husband, Tom, of Ballston Spa; 12 grandchildren, 12 great-grandchildren and two nephews.

A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m Friday, Nov. 21, 2008 at Ballston Center Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church, Charlton Road, Ballston Spa.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Ballston Center Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church, 58 Charlton Road, Ballston Spa, NY 12020; or to Community Hospice of Saratoga, 179 Lawrence St., Saratoga Springs, NY 12866.

Sparks from the Spa - Saratoga County R.A.C.E.S. ARA - May 2009
Club to Receive K2DLL Callsign of Founder Ed Whitaker - SK
As mentioned last month, Alice Whitaker asked the club if we would like the call of her late husband, Ed - K2DLL. We said yes and asked Jim - K2LM, trustee of the club’s license, to pursue this application.

On 4/30, Jim reported, "At this writing we are waiting for the FCC to cancel K2DLL’s license". When this happens Saratoga County RACES will obtain the callsign and everything we do from now on which includes the beacons on 144, 220, 1296; the APRS nodes; the packet network and our voice repeaters will use the callsign K2DLL.

On 5/1, he reported, "The FCC has canceled K2DLL and I, as club trustee, have applied to have Saratoga County RACES have the callsign of K2DLL".

Jim expects this application to be granted any day - meaning that all of the club’s repeaters and activities (including Field Day) will begin to use the call K2DLL. In this way, the memory of Ed, who was so active in our club, will live on for many years to come. Thank you, Alice!

To: Board of Directors - Saratoga County RACES
I, Alice Whitaker K2SJH wish to acknowledge to the Board of Directors and all those involved, my sincere thanks and gratitude of considering Ed's call letters for the Saratoga County Repeater. I am greatly touched by your kindness. He would be most proud and yet humble. I know he is greatly missed by all of you as well as myself. He was a very kind and humble man and loved by all involved in his life. Thanks again for passing on Ed's legacy.
Love and God bless
Alice Whitaker K2SJH

I want to thank K2LM for obtaining our new club callsign K2DLL. It was very heart warming to hear the callsign on the air from the repeater. Ed gave me my first taste of ham radio when I was a boy.
73's
Dave N2FEP
Skywarn Coordinator, ARES E/C