Wilson C. Whitaker passed away on Saturday, January 18, 2014, in Austell, GA.
He was born on December 10, 1928, in Enfield, NC to parents Hubert Mahaney Whitaker & Nina Vinson Whitaker, and was the youngest of five siblings – Emma, Lilly, Nina, & Hubert, his twin brother.
He graduated from Enfield High School in 1947 and shortly thereafter joined the US Air Force, serving as a Second Lieutenant from August 21, 1950 to June 20 1955. During his sterling military career, Wilson bravely served his country by piloting twenty-six combat missions during the Korean War. After an honorable discharge in 1955, he returned to college on the GI Bill and graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Industrial Engineering from North Carolina State University in 1959.
His spent more than two decades in industry, with distinguished career turns at The International Harvester Company, and Grove Manufacturing Company, respectively. Next, Wilson worked as a successful broker and investor with Chicora Real Estate in Myrtle Beach, SC, before launching Whitaker & Co., Associates in Real Estate in 1986.
Committed to a life of devoting his time in service to others, Wilson was a longtime member of Rotary International, serving as president of the Rotary Club of Conway, SC, from 1978-1979, and named Rotary Club Man of the Year in 1984.
Wilson, with Jacque, his loving wife of sixty years, enjoyed his retirement years in Cashiers, NC, traveling and spending time with family.
Wilson is survived by his wife, Jacqueline Stone Whitaker; his son, Wilson Cary Whitaker, II and daughter-in-law Irene, and their two sons, Wilson Cary Whitaker, III (Trey) & Myles; his son, John Stone Whitaker and daughter-in-law Julie, and their two children, Mark & Catherine; his son, Matthew Lawrence Whitaker and life partner, Patrick Wallace; and his siblings, Emma Whitaker Thompson of Topsail, NC, and Nina Whitaker Beavans, of Enfield, NC.
Funeral services will be held at Whitaker’s Chapel near Enfield, NC, on Saturday, January 25, 2014 at 11:30AM.
The following week, a memorial service for Wilson will be held on Thursday, January 30, 2014, at 6:30PM in the Lakeview Room at Presbyterian Village, 2000 East-West Connector, Austell, GA (770-819-7000).
Local arrangements are being handled by Massey Funeral Home in Roanoke Rapids.