Jo Marie Whitman

JoMarie Whitman, age 84 of New Hampton, IA passed away on Saturday, January 2, 2016 at Mercy Medical Center in New Hampton. Jo Marie was born on April 17, 1931 to Mr. and Mrs. William (Skinner) Eldridge in Hornell, NY. She attended and graduated from Hornell Senior High. After graduating, Jo Marie met and married Arnold Pond. It was while the couple was stationed at West Point Naval Academy that Jo Marie began her 48 year career as a waitress. They traveled the world while Arnold was in the military and had seven children, Butch, Art, Cindy, Donna, James, Robert and Jo Ann. When they returned back to the US, the couple later divorced. In the late 1950’s, Jo Marie was united in marriage to Harry Whitman and welcomed two sons, John and David. The couple made their home in Miami Beach, FL and where Jo Marie lived until her retirement in 1995 when she moved to New Hampton to help raised her granddaughters, Jackie and Rachel. Jo Marie enjoyed reading, bowling and her 5 O’clock totty. But her granddaughters were her pride and joy. She is survived by her children, Art, Cindy, Donna, James, Robert, Jo Ann, John and David; numerous grandchildren and one brother, Richard Eldridge. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Harry Whitman; son, Butch and sister, Nadine.