All in the family: Whitaker's Hardware has been a family business since 1905

You might say Ron Whitaker has the hardware store business in his blood.

"My grandfather, Reece Whitaker, opened Whitaker's Hardware Store in Rector, Arkansas, in 1905," he says.

The store stayed open in Rector until 1934 when the family relocated to Portageville, Missouri.

"They opened that store on Feb. 22, 1934, which was the day I was born," says Whitaker.

The hardware store made its final move to Chaffee, Missouri, in 1952, where it remains open for business today.

Many of Whitaker's relatives were involved in operating the store over the years, including his dad, Harlan, and his mom, Mary. Ron took on the responsibility of operating the store in 1960 after his father passed away.

When asked what his title is, Whitaker replies, "Employee! We don't have titles around here!"

In 1966, Whitaker's Hardware Store became an Ace Hardware Store.

"Before then, there weren't many chain stores," says Whitaker.

He began helping out in the store around the age of 10 and continued to work there until he was stationed in Albuquerque, New Mexico, with the Army. After serving in the military, Whitaker worked in a lumber yard in Albuquerque for two years. His father's death brought him back to Missouri to run the family store.

Camaraderie with customers is what Whitaker likes best about working in a small-town hardware store.

"We have customers we've had since the 1950s and now we have their kids and grandkids," he says. "Our customer base is very loyal."

The most challenging aspect of owning and operating a hardware store is keeping up with all of the product knowledge, according to Whitaker.

"The customer expects more product knowledge that they used to," he says. "For example, there used to be only one or two kinds of caulk and now there could be 500 different kinds. The customer expects you to know about each one."

Whitaker, who is 80, says he will probably work in the store "forever," but his son, Steven, and Steven's son- in- law, Jordan Hall, now help with all of the day-to-day operations.

Whitaker's Hardware Store is open 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday and Ron works in the store for most of its operating hours.

"I do like to take Friday afternoons off," he says.

The store's day-to-day operations and changes are what keeps the work interesting to Whitaker.

"This store is kind of like an old man's Erector Set," he jokes.