Updated Oct 18, 2009 at 6:19 PM

FT. LAUDERDALE, FL

William R. “Billy” Whitaker of Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, passed away at his home Monday, Oct. 12, 2009. He was 33.

Billy was born October 31, 1975 in Dover, Delaware, the son of William A. and Mary D. Whitaker of Smyrna, Delaware.

He worked as a manager for the Elbo Room in Ft. Lauderdale and had formerly been employed as a life guard in Dewey Beach, Delaware.

Billy had a life-long love for animals, raising exotic reptiles, amphibians, salt water fish, birds and mammals.

He enjoyed fishing, stunt-bicycling and skateboarding as a schoolboy and he was an avid weight lifter, body builder and physical fitness practitioner as an adult.

In addition to his parents, he is survived by a sister, Jacki Whitaker of Smyrna; a brother, Tim Whitaker of Ft. Lauderdale, Florida; his maternal grandmother, Mary West of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; his paternal grandmother, Ruth Whitaker of Wilmington, Delaware; his nieces, Brittany, Savannah and Addyson; a great niece, Ava and numerous cousins and extended family.

Services will be Wednesday, Oct. 21 at 3 p.m., in the Faries Funeral Chapel, 29 South Main Street, Smyrna, Delaware, where friends may call from 1 to 3 p.m. Burial will be private.

In lieu of flowers the family suggests contributions be made to the National Wildlife Federation, 11100 Wildlife Center Drive, Reston VA 20190-5362.

Read more: http://www.scsuntimes.com/article/20091018/News/310189995#ixzz332bpAM6X