Industry Veteran Robert ‘Bob’ Fred Whittaker Passes
Bob Whittaker.
Robert “Bob” Fred Whittaker passed away on June 5. He was 85.
Whittaker was born in Detroit, Michigan, on May 10, 1941. He spent his early years in Baxter, Tennessee, where he returned later in life.
Whittaker spent a majority of his career with Opryland USA before serving as General Manager of the Grand Ole Opry for the final nine years before his retirement.
He is survived by his wife, Carolyn Jean Whittaker, three children, five grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
The family held a funeral service earlier this month. Memorial messages can be shared here.
Lauryn Sink is a staff writer at MusicRow Magazine. Hailing from Lexington, North Carolina, Lauryn is a 2025 graduate of the Hussman School of Journalism and Media at The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Latest posts by Lauryn Sink (see all)
- DEK Of Hearts Signs With Red Light Management - October 8, 2026
- Loretta Lynn’s ‘Van Lear Rose’ To Be Re-Released Via Third Man Records - October 8, 2026
- Wade Forster Makes Grand Ole Opry Debut - October 8, 2026