Kenneth Whiteaker

Kenneth B. Whiteaker, 84, passed away on Thursday, April 2, 2026, at his home in Carlsbad, NM.

Visitation will be 5:00 PM -7:00 PM, Thursday, April 9, 2026, at Denton-Wood Funeral Home. A memorial service will take place at 10:00 AM, Saturday, April 11, 2026 at Carlsbad First Assembly with Pastor Brad Coates officiating. Interment will follow at Carlsbad Cemetery, Carlsbad, NM. Denton-Wood Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.

Kenneth B. Whiteaker was born on April 8, 1941, in Abilene, TX to H. B. and Gertrude (Johns) Whiteaker and moved to Carlsbad with his parents as a young boy. He graduated from Carlsbad High School in 1959. He married Dorothy Henley November 26, 1963. Ken worked in the potash mines his entire career, retiring in 1999. Sometime after Dorothy passed away, he married Eva Pettes on September 4, 2010. He enjoyed drawing and was a very good artist. Ken loved the mountains, four-wheeling and hunting.

Kenneth was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Dorothy Whiteaker in 1994 and brother, Ronnie Whiteaker.

Survivors are his wife, Eva Whiteaker; daughters: Paige Evans and husband, Tim, and Annette Mihelic; stepchildren: Quintin Pettes and wife, Julie, Blaine Pettes and wife, Kim, and Kina Mills and husband, Randy; grandchildren: Taylor Munoz, Dana Romero, Sarah Cordova, Scott Jennings, Jacob Mihelic, Crystal Pettes, Regan Talbot, Mack Pettes, Chelsea Stockwell, and Caleb Vannatter; 26 great-grandchildren; sister, Sandra Bowen; brother, Roger Whiteaker and wife, Brenda and numerous nieces and nephews.

Condolences may be expressed at dentonwood.com