Samuel N. Whitacre, 88, of Frederick County, died Friday, December 21st at Westminster Canterbury.

Dr. Whitacre was born in Whitacre, Virginia, the son of Lee Nimrod and Lula B. Whitacre. He married Jo Ann Van Valkenburgh on June 6, 1953 in Charlottesville.

Whitacre graduated from Gainesboro High School in 1943. He served as a Senate Page in the Virginia State Legislature, including a year as Page for the Speaker of the House. He was awarded Outstanding Greenhand in 1939, was a member of the 1942 Virginia Crop Judging team at the 4H World Conference in Chicago and was an FFA Virginia State Farmer in 1943.

He served in the US Army from 1943-1945, and was on the SS Sacajawea headed for Guam and then Japan when the war ended and the ship returned to port, a story he loved to tell.

He attended the University of Virginia for both college and Medical School, graduating in 1953. He interned at Cincinnati General Hospital, followed by a Family Practice Residency at the Medical College of Virginia.

Dr. Whitacre joined the medical practice of Dr. Willis Lacy in 1956. In 1964, he moved to Amherst Street where Dr. Gary Wake joined him. In 1970, they started Amherst Family Practice which continues today to serve the community as his legacy.

Dr. Whitacre was a member of the Winchester Memorial Hospital Medical Staff from 1956-1991, serving a term as president. He served on the board and as a president of the Northwest Systems Agency. He became a diplomate of the American Board of Family Practice in 1974 and was appointed Assistant Clinical Professor of the University of Virginia in 1976, training nurse practitioners.

Whitacre was an active member and Deacon of the First Presbyterian Church. He served on the Board of the Commercial and Savings Bank and the Lord Fairfax Community College Board, also serving as President. He was Co-Chairman on the Committee for Merger Information in the 1960’s. He was a member of the Board of the Henry and William Evans Home for Children, the Clearbrook Fire Company, including 10 years as Chairman, and a member of Stonewall Ruritan Club.

He was a founding member and a president of Lake St. Clair, and served as a Chairman of The Winchester Star Leadership Award committee.

Whitacre was at heart a country boy who enjoyed everything about farming. He was happiest on his tractor, in his workshop, and in the fields tending to his cattle. His Clearbrook farm gave him much enjoyment, especially after retiring from medical practice in 1991.

His family was at the center of his life and he took great pleasure and pride in his five children and twelve grandchildren. He loved traveling with his family within the states and to foreign countries. Sam and his wife JoAnn took many trips with children and grandchildren to celebrate special occasions.

In addition to his wife JoAnn, he is survived by his son Peyton Whitacre of Winchester Virginia, daughters Susan and husband, Dr. Brian Weiss of Raleigh, NC, Kay and husband William Pommerening of Arlington, VA, and Laura and husband Jeffery France of Westlake Village, CA, and son Lee Whitacre and wife, Leigh Anne of Clearbrook, Virginia. He will live on in the memory of his grandchildren, Laura, Erin, and Jack Weiss, Will, Virginia, and Darcy Pommerening, Sam, Chloe and Peter France, Logan, Kaye and Christian Whitacre.

Dr. Whitacre was the last member of his immediate family. Sisters Kathryn and Hilda, brothers George and Frank are deceased.

A memorial service will be held Thursday, December 27th at 11am at First Presbyterian Church on Loudoun Street. Burial at Mt. Hebron will be private.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to The Youth Development Center, The Building Fund of The First Presbyterian Church, and The Evans Home for Children.

Please view obituaries and tribute wall at www.ompsfuneralhome.com.