William Michael Whitmire

WHITMIRE, WILLIAM MICHAEL - Age 57 years, died unexpectedly, April 5, 2014, in his residence in Sebastopol, following a hard fought battle with cancer. He was born February 21, 1957 in Pittsfield, Ma. to William Francis Whitmire and Gloria Ruth Quinlan. William enlisted in the United States Marine Corp’s straight out of high school where he served six years duty, obtaining the rank of Sergeant. Not long after, William rekindled his childhood interest in the martial arts by opening his first Karate School in Lincolnville, Me. In his career he promoted 32 black belts, including several he led to win the 1996 World Karate Championship in Long Island, NY. Later, William received his Ph.D. in Christian Counseling from Trinity College. He spent his last years working for the Department of Rehab in Santa Rosa, CA, helping to find and place veterans in employment as well as teaching interactive classes on resume writing and interview preparation.

William is survived by his son William Matthew of Fort Myers, FL and daughter Jessica of Napa, CA; by his sisters of Pittsfield, Ma. Darlene Bonacquisti and her husband, Ronald, Nancy Luczynski and her husband, Daniel, Sandra Whitmire, and Mary Ellen Whitmire-Rahilly; nieces Amy Bonacquisti, Erin Monti, Jaclyn Bonacquisti, Kori Blackwell, and Kaitlyn Blackwell; nephews Derick Carlson, Travis Carlson, Zachary Rahilly, and Parker Rahilly.

Family and friends are invited to attend a Memorial Service on Friday, April 18, 2014 at 1:00 P.M. in the Fireside Room at LAFFERTY & SMITH COLONIAL CHAPEL (4321 Sonoma Highway, Santa Rosa, CA, 95409). Private inurnment.