Jerry David Whitacre
OBITUARY
Jerry passed away peacefully at home surrounded by his loved ones on Friday, March 6, 2026. Jerry was born at home delivered by his grandfather, a physician, on April 8, 1938, in Springfield, Ohio.
He attended high school in Tempe, Arizona, and had lifelong friends from those days. After high school, he spent the summer of 1956 in West Yellowstone, Montana, and had lots of stories from that time; one such story was of his encounter with a black bear. Jerry attended college for 2 years at Arizona State University, where he met his first wife, Diane Carlson. They were married in 1959 and moved to Tucson, Arizona, where Jerry attended pharmacy school at the University of Arizona.
In 1962, they moved to Long Beach, CA, where Jerry worked as a pharmacist for 55 years. He opened his first pharmacy, Medical Center Pharmacy at 5th and Alamitos in 1967. In 1971, he began working at HMO International. He was hired to start their pharmacy department, later becoming vice president and then president before leaving the company in 1977.
He opened The Medicine Shoppe on Atlantic Ave in 1978. He loved owning and running his pharmacy. He sold his business to Pavilion’s Pharmacy in 1998, and he worked and enjoyed seeing many of his Medicine Shoppe customers until he retired at the age of 79 in 2017.
Jerry and Diane had 3 children and divorced in 1986. They remained friends until the end.
Jerry met Judy Johnson, a nurse for Dr. Mitchell, a doctor who practiced near the Medicine Shoppe. They met over the phone. They married in 1991 and enjoyed 35 years of love, fun, laughs, lots of family dinners, and happy hours.
Jerry loved golfing, Craps, Blackjack, The Tijuana Brass, his 1973 Mercedes, The Alabama Crimson Tide, investing, cruises, sailing, a good Jack and Coke, and his little dog, Xena, and not necessarily in that order.
He was a member of Bay Shore Church and enjoyed everyone he met there.
Jerry was a great storyteller and jokester. One of his last jokes was from his hospice bed, the nurse asked him if she could take his blood pressure. He said, “Only if you give it back.”
Jerry is survived by his wife Judy, his children: Kim (Jeff), Cindy (Brian), Paul, Erin (Ben), and David. 9 grandchildren and 2 great grandchildren. As a result of his influence and guidance, we have eight pharmacists in the family.
Jerry’s celebration of his life is scheduled for May 2, 2026, at 2pm at the Bixby Village Club House. Please bring you favorite Jerry stories to share.
The family would like to thank Kaiser Hospice for all their excellent care.
Donations in memory of Jerry may be made to Bay Shore Community Congregational Church in Long Beach.