Lillie Anne Whittaker September 26, 1927 - January 7, 2025

Lillie Anne Whittaker passed peacefully at home on January 7th, 2025. She was born September 26th, 1927, in Oklahoma City, the youngest of 7 children to Frank and Kathrine “Katie” Vrana. Her family called her “Babe”.

She was a graduate of Putnam City High School in 1945, both a leader in Student Council and 4H, later attending Oklahoma State University with a dream of a career in fashion design. After getting over the fear of her father, Robert “Bob” Whittaker asked for Anne’s hand in marriage. On February 29th, 1948, they wed, leading to decades of jokes from him that he only owed her an anniversary gift every 4 years.

Ever devoted as a mother of 4, she eventually tapped into her sense of style and creativity opening Once Upon a Tabletop in 1970. Her company helped decorate many of the most beautiful weddings and elegant events in Oklahoma City for many decades. A bride only needed an idea for Anne to make it a reality. No dream was too big, no color could not be matched.

On May 27th, 1988, Anne and her siblings proudly took part in a ceremony to donate the “Round Barn of Arcadia”, which had been in their family for 42 years, to the Arcadia Historical and Preservation Society. This was after the sisters had pleaded for many years with multiple historical societies about its condition and its need for preservation.

Her sense of style was only matched by her wit and her compassion. She often appeared quiet and reserved, but her eyes would flash in an instant, ready with a witty retort. Sarcasm seemed to be her love language.

She loved to travel. She traveled to Europe, Morocco, South Africa, Australia, and all over the United States. One of her favorite stories involved getting to dance with Lawrence Welk.

Having been born into the Czech community she loved to dance, with fond memories of the nights spent at the Czech Hall in Yukon, Oklahoma.

She loved games, especially card games, as well as word puzzles. Games shows were must see TV. She rarely missed her weekly appointment at the beauty parlor, although her knowledge of celebrity gossip peaked sometime around 1979. Thankfully her grandchildren and great grandchildren had Google to check for references.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Frank and Katie, her siblings Mary Francis (Vrana) Crown, Emily Alice (Vrana) Lightner, Helen (Vrana) Kastl, Frank Charles Vrana, Angela Evelyn (Vrana) Hanska, Edna Jo (Vrana) Minor, her husband of 50 years, Robert Joshua Whittaker, her only daughter Vicki Jane Banta and her youngest son Jeffrey Alan Whittaker.

She is survived by her sons, Robert Michael Whittaker and wife Sherry, Dennis Thurman Whittaker and wife Julie, her grandchildren Greg Whittaker and his wife Rebekah, Deanne Chappell, Paul Whittaker, Nicole Griffin and her husband Jeff, Philip Banta and his wife Melissa, Bonnie Webb and her husband Chad, Angelia Clark and her husband Shannon, Candace Phillips, her 16 great grandchildren and 3 great-great grandchildren.

She was often fond of saying “getting old isn’t for sissies”, which at 97 she showed that she was no sissy.