Randolph Whitley

RANDOLPH WHITLEY, 85, OF THE WEST EDGECOMBE COMMUNITY, BORN JANUARY 31, 1920 IN NASH COUNTY, DEPARTED THIS EARTHLY LIFE TO HIS HEAVENLY HOME AT NASH GENERAL HOSPITAL ON SUNDAY, AUGUST 7, 2005. RANDOLPH ENTERED THE ARMY IN 1941 JOINING THE MCCARTHUR FORCES IN AUSTRALIA IN THE LIBERATION OF THE PHILIPPINES BY WAY OF AUSTRAILIA NEW GUINEA DUTCH “B12K”. DURING THE LIBERATION OF THE PHILIPPINES, HE RECEIVED MANY DECORATIONS INCLUDING THE CIB BADGE OF HONOR, PURPLE HEART WITH OAK LEAF CLUSTER, BRONZE STAR FOR HEROISM AND FIVE BATTLE STARTS. HE ATTENDED SCHOOL IN EDGECOMBE AND NASH COUNTY AND NCO SCHOOL IN THE ARMY WHERE HE WAS APPOINTED STAFF SERGEANT SERVINGS AS SQUAD LEADER. HE ATTENDED NC UNIVERSITY IN ANIMAL SCIENCE AND WAS APPOINTED RESEARCH TECHNICIAN AT THE UPPER COASTAL PLAIN RESEARCH STATION IN 1950, WHERE HE SERVED UNTIL HIS RETIREMENT IN 1985. HIS ACCOMPLISHMENTS THROUGH HIS CAREER INCLUDED DEMONSTRATING AND PRESENTING HIS LIVESTOCK PROJECTS TO DELEGATES AND REPRESENTATIVES ON A LOCAL, STATE, NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL LEVEL. HIS LEGACY IS THAT HE WAS ONE OF THE FIRST IN THE BREEDING AND PRIDUCTING OF LIVESTOCK IN A DISEASE FREE AND CLEAN ENVIRONMENT. HE WAS AWARDED THE ALLIED INDUSTRY AWARD, THE SUPERIOR SERVICE AWARD, WAS PRESENTED TO THE COUNCIL OF STATE AND WAS THE RECIPIENT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF AGRICULTURE “JAMES A. GRAHAM” AWARD PRESENTED BY GOVERNOR JAMES A. HUNT. HE WAS A FORMER MEMBER OF THE WEST EDGECOMBE BAPTIST CHURCH, WHERE HE SERVED AS A DEACON AND CHAIRMAN OF THE BROTHERHOOD. HE WAS ALSO A MEMBER OF ARLINGTON BAPTIST CHURCH. ALSO, IN SERVING HIS COMMUNITY, HE WAS A LONG TIME MEMBER OF THE WEST EDGECOMBE RURITAN CLUB. HE WAS A LIFETIME MEMBER OF THE D.A.V., MEMBER OF THE NC PORK PRODUCERS ASSOCIATION, THE NC CATTLEMEN’S ASSOCIATION AND A MEMBER OF SEANC. HE WAS A DEVOTED CHRISTIAN, AND LOVING HUSBAND, FATHER, AND GRANDFATHER. HE WILL BE GREATLY MISSED BY ALL THAT KNEW HIM.
HE WAS PRECEDED IN DEATH BY HIS WIFE OF 52 YEARS, DORIS THOMAS WHITLEY; HIS PARENTS, MILTON AND CORA P. WHITLEY; A BROTHER, THURMAN WHITLEY, AND A SISTER, LUCILLE W. EASON.
HE LEAVES TO CHERISH HIS MEMORY, TWO DAUGHTERS, BETH W. BRIDGES OF ROCKY MOUNT, AND KATHY W. COCHRAN OF FARMVILLE; SISTERS, MARGARET “SHINY” W. CORINTH OF GASTONIA, AND DOROTHY W. LANGLEY OF NEWPORT; BROTHERS, MARVIN “BILL” WHITLEY, DAVID WHITLEY OF ROCKY MOUNT, MILTON “JACK” WHITLEY JR. OF BURLINGTON, THEODORE “TED” WHITLEY OF ROCKY MOUNT. HE IS ALSO SURVIVED BY FIVE GRANDCHILDREN, KELLEY BRIDGES, DANA BRIDGES, SHEIR SUTTON, TINA MOORING AND RANDALL TATE COCHRAN; AND SIX GREAT-GRANDCHILDREN.
THE FAMILY WILL RECEIVE FRIENDS TUESDAY, AUGUST 9, 2005 FROM 7-8:30PM AT BOWLING FUNERAL HOME, AND OTHER TIMES AT THE HOME OF BETH BRIDGES, 3917 CROSSWINDS DRIVE, ROCKY MOUNT.
FUNERAL SERVICE WILL BE HELD 11AM WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 10, 2005 IN THE CHAPEL OF BOWLING FUNERAL HOME WITH DR. HARRY KAHN AND REV. KEITH GRIFFIN OFFICIATING. BURIAL WILL FOLLOW AT ROCKY MOUNT MEMORIAL PARK.
FLOWERS ARE WELCOME, OR MEMORIALS MAY BE MADE TO WEST EDGECOMBE BAPTIST CHRUCH, 3741 COKEY ROAD, ROCKY MOUNT, NC 27801, OR TO FAITH CHRISTIAN SCHOOL, 1333 FAITH CHRISTIAN DRIVE, ROCKY MOUNT, NC 27803.
SERVING AS PALLBEARERS ARE TATE COCHRAN, KEITH BARKLEY, MIKE EASON, CHAD NATHAN JONES, CHRISTOPHER MORSE, AND JOHN MARVIN WHITLEY.
ARRANGEMENTS ARE ENTRUSTED TO BOWLING FUNERAL HOME, 661 ENGLISH ROAD, ROCKY MOUNT, NC 27804.