Earl Whitley

Earl McClain Whitley Earl McClain Whitley, a long-time resident of Albemarle, North Carolina, died peacefully at 9:20 a.m. on Friday, October 30, 2009, in the home of his older daughter and son-in-law, Lori and Chuck Gaskin of Advance, North Carolina. Mr. Whitley was born in Kannapolis, North Carolina, on October 25, 1925, the son of the late Phylas Durrant Whitley and Bessie Hathcock Whitley of Millingport, North Carolina. He enlisted in the United States Marines where he served proudly and honorably during World War II earning the rank of Corporal. Upon his return to Albemarle, Mr. Whitley served in a number of management and sales positions at Service Distributing, Collins & Aikman, Federal Pacific, Richfield Manufacturing, Life Insurance of Virginia, Eckerd Drug Stores, and K-Mart. He and his wife retired to the St. James community in Southport, North Carolina until the summer of 2009. While in Albemarle, Mr. Whitley was an Elder and Deacon at First Presbyterian Church, a 6-year member of the Albemarle City School Board, a member of the Jaycees and Civitan clubs, and earned his North Carolina Real Estate Broker’s License. Mr. Whitley was a loving and devoted husband, father and grandfather. He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Idalene Lowder Whitley, a resident of Spring Arbor in Albemarle, North Carolina. He is survived by their four children: Gerald McClain Whitley of Park City, Utah; daughter Lori Whitley Gaskin of Advance, North Carolina; son John Daniel Whitley of Goose Creek, South Carolina; and daughter Pamela Whitley Misenheimer of Lawrenceville, Georgia. He is also survived by ten grandchildren; Jennifer Whitley, Ashley Buckingham, Heather Whitley, Katherine Gaskin, Andrew Misenheimer, Lauren Whitley, Justin Misenheimer, Matthew Misenheimer, Seth Whitley and Samuel Misenheimer. He has a surviving brother, Durrant Whitley, Jr., of Norwood, North Carolina. He was preceded in death by brothers James and Joseph Whitley and sisters Ruby Burleson and Cora Mae McIntyre. A service celebrating the life of Mr. Whitley will be held at First Presbyterian Church in Albemarle, NC at 2:00 on Sunday, November 1, 2009 with a visitation with the family immediately following the service at the church. Military interment will be on Monday, November 2, 2009, at 11:00 a.m. at the Veterans’ National Cemetery in Salisbury, North Carolina. Pallbearers will be sons Gerald and John Whitley, sons-in-law Chuck Gaskin and Rex Misenheimer, grandsons Andrew and Justin Misenheimer, grandson-in-law Brian Buckingham, and family friend Kenny Hill. Memorials may be made to Community Home Care and Hospice of Statesville, 322 N. Center St. Statesville, NC 28677