James Egbert Whitaker, Lieutenant Colonel, United States Air Force Reserve (Retired), aged 94, of Amelia, died on March 4, 2015.  He was predeceased by his parents, Doc Bynum Whitaker and Mary Boyles Whitaker, his son, James C. Whitaker, and his seven siblings.  He is survived by his wife of 65 years, Claire Dimmick Whitaker, sons Johnny (Nancy), Michael (Maria), Bruce, and David (Robin), five grandchildren, and seven great-grandchildren.  Colonel Whitaker entered Aviation Cadet Training just weeks after Pearl Harbor and served as a bombardier based at RAF Polebrook, England, in the US Army Air Forces in World War II.  He was wounded in action over Regensberg, Germany, during "Big Week" Operations in February 1944.  He was a command mission planner and bombardier-navigator who flew from Okinawa during the Korean War.  He navigated medium and heavy nuclear bombers with the Strategic Air Command from 1948 until he returned to his native Amelia in 1964, where he became a surveyor, tobacco farmer, and businessman.  Visitation will be at the Hillsman-Hix Funeral Home in Amelia Court House on Monday, March 9 ^th from 6:00 to 8:00 pm.   His memorial service will occur there on March 10th at 11:00 am, with interment with military honors immediately following at The Virginia Veterans Cemetery in Amelia.  In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his name to the Amelia Christmas Mothers.