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Blackburn & Ward Funeral Home obituary

James C. Wilhoit, Jr. PhD

December 22, 1925 - September 5, 2013

James C. Wilhoit Jr., PhD, 87, husband of Louise LeGros Wilhoit, died Thursday, September 5 at his home in Versailles. Born in Tulsa, OK, he was a son of the late James Cammack Wilhoit Sr. and Lora Holloway Wilhoit. He was an active member and former deacon of the Versailles Presbyterian Church. As a strong advocate and supporter of the Woodford County Library, he served on the library board and was a former board chairman. He volunteered for the Library, Meals on Wheels, the Salvation Army, and was a former board member of Kentucky Bank in Versailles. 

Mr. Wilhoit graduated from Lamar High School in Houston, TX in 1942 and served in the U. S. Navy during World War II. He completed a bachelors degree from Rice University in 1948, his Master's degree from Texas A&M in 1951, and his PhD from Stanford in 1953. He taught at Rice University from 1954 until his retirement as Professor Emeritus of Mechanical Engineering in 1981.

Survivors, in addition to his wife of 64 years, include two daughters, Ann Holloway Wilhoit (Bill) Sparker of Houston, TX, Joan LeGros Wilhoit of Versailles, two sons, John H. (Sue Churchill) Wilhoit of Woodford Co., James P. (Maya Torigoe) Wilhoit of Renton, WA, five grandchildren, Will Sparker, Sarah Sparker, Sophie Wilhoit, Ella Wilhoit, Thomas Wilhoit one great grandchild, four nieces and four nephews. He was preceded in death by a brother, Bill R. Wilhoit. 

Visitation is 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. Sunday, September 8 at Blackburn & Ward Funeral Home. Funeral services will be at 4:00 p.m., Monday, September 9 at the Versailles Presbyterian Church with Rev. Melissa Sevier officiating. 

Interment is in the Versailles Cemetery. 

Memorials are suggested to the Woodford County Library,115 North Main St., Versailles, KY 40383.