By Staff
John Mark Whitley Sr. of Hampstead, NC went home to his master on August 15, 2007, at New Hanover Regional Medical Center after a valiant battle with leukemia.
He was born in Washington, NC on February 9, 1936, and was preceded in death by his father, Charles A. Whitley and brothers, Manuel Whitley and Phillip Whitley and father-in-law, John M. Taylor.
John proudly served in the U.S. Air Force and retired from Sprint after thirty-six years. After his retirement, John devoted his time to his wife, doting on grandchildren, his children, as well as his passion for flying and his airport in Holly Ridge.
John is survived by the love of his life and wife of forty-seven years, Athalia Taylor Whitley. His daughters, Ginny Whitley, Becky Reilly and husband Joe. John is survived by his best friends and sons, Michael Whitley and John Mark Whitley Jr. and a specially loved daughter-in-law, Diane. Other survivors are his mother, Essie R. Whitley and siblings, Michael F. Whitley, Joseph M. Whitley, Charles E. Whitley and Esther W. Quinn; sister-in-law, Virginia Taylor and, last but not least, Jake, his constant companion. John has four beautiful granddaughters; Elizabeth King, Rebecca King, Taylor-Grace Green and Angela Athalia Reilly. John boasts three strapping grandsons, Jared Green, Jonathan Green and Carson Michael Whitley that gave him much pleasure and pride.
A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, August 18, 2007, at Andrews Mortuary Hampstead Chapel. Interment will follow in Sea Lawn Memorial Park.
Pallbearers will be grandsons, Jared Green, Jonathan Green, brothers-in-law, John Taylor, Harold Quinn and Jim Fulcher as well as life long friend, David Ellis. Honorary pallbearers are son-in-law, Joe Reilly, nephews Rob Quinn, Shawn Quinn, David Whitley, Jeff Whitley and Phillip Royce Whitley.
Local arrangements by Hillside Funeral Service of Washington.
Paid Obituary