Remembering CW “Woody” Whitaker
October 11, 1942 – August 27, 2026
CW “Woody” Whitaker passed away on August 27, 2026, at age 83, surrounded by the family he loved. A devoted son, brother, husband, father, grandfather, and beloved “Uncle Dad,” Woody brought a gentle, playful spirit to his relationships and an artisan’s eye to his work as a builder.
Born in Eagar, Arizona, to Walter William Whitaker and Ruby Jewel Dyer, Woody grew up in Lancaster, California, with his siblings, Darlene, William “Bill,” and Robert “Bob.” His love of building began early, when he and his siblings helped construct the family home. Raised by a father who put his children to work as soon as they could hold a hammer, Woody developed the discipline and work ethic that guided him throughout his life.
At Antelope Valley High School, Woody excelled in gymnastics and was named Mr. Antelope Valley, remembered as a likable, well-rounded student. He went on to work as a carpenter for Del Webb on developments in Carson City, Nevada, and later on Southern California projects including the Anaheim Convention Center.
Woody brought an appreciation for beauty, architecture, and wood to everything he created. Over the years, he built custom homes across California and Colorado that families still enjoy. His own family lived in homes he designed and built, from the “tree house” near the ocean in Aptos, California, to the “Baja Sol” mountainside retreat, and eventually his “retirement” home on a high ridge in Florissant, Colorado, overlooking a beautiful valley. Each reflected his detailed craftsmanship and his love of the natural landscape.
Woody met his wife, Pam, in Southern California. Through 58 years of marriage, she was his steadfast supporter, his practical, level-headed partner, and his anchor through every season of life. Together they built a life around home-building, family camping trips, and frequent gatherings with loved ones, sharing the work, decisions, challenges, and joys of providing for their family. In his later years of illness, Pam became his devoted caregiver, extending the love that had always sustained their partnership.
Woody loved his work, but he loved his children even more. Weekends often meant bringing them along to building sites, where helping with cleanup earned a trip for ice cream or candy, a reward that suited his own sweet tooth. In a particularly good mood, he would sing out loud, hamming it up to make his kids laugh.
He also shared his love of the outdoors, taking the family to lakes and mountains for camping, fishing, hunting, and watersports. Through work and adventures together, Woody taught his children and grandchildren to work hard and show up for family, whatever the circumstances.
With his gentle nature and easy charm, Woody was a peacemaker who put people at ease and built lasting friendships and business relationships. His nieces, Lisa and Jennifer, lovingly called him “Uncle Dad,” a name earned through his devotion from their childhood into adulthood. The family who surrounded him at the end of his life reflected the close relationships he nurtured.
Woody is survived by his wife, Pam; his five children, David Whitaker, Melissa Whitaker, Amber Whitaker-Martin, Angela Pruneski, and Andrea Motzkin; 11 grandchildren; and 12 great-grandchildren, with a 13th due October 19. He is also survived by his sister, Darlene; his brother, Bob; his sister-in-law, Sandra Spytman; and his nieces and “Uncle Dad” daughters, Lisa Weeres and Jennifer Bartelson. He was preceded in death by his parents and his brother, Bill.
Family and close friends will gather for a private celebration of Woody’s life on what would have been his 84th birthday, at his Florissant mountain home, to share stories, comfort one another, and remember the many ways he shaped their lives.
