Harry W. Whiteside Jr.

Harry W. Whiteside Jr., 83, of Roanoke, Va., passed away on Saturday evening, April 10, 2010. He was a member of Virginia Heights Baptist Church, where he was a member of the Fellowship Sunday School Class, was a deacon, a member of the Sanctuary Choir, and former finance committee chairman. Mr. Whiteside was a naval veteran of World War II.
He graduated from William Fleming High School (where he was senior class president) and was also a graduate of Roanoke College (where he served as president of the student body). Harry graduated from the University of Indiana Savings and Loan Graduate School. He was the former president of First Federal Savings and Loan Association, the former vice-president of Charter Federal Savings and Loan, and a past chairman of the Virginia Savings and Loan League.
Mr. Whiteside was a past president of the Roanoke Valley Speech and Hearing Center, a past president of the Backbone Club of the Roanoke Valley Chamber of Commerce, and a past chairman of the Roanoke Valley United Way. Harry was a past president of the Golden Colonels of William Fleming High School. He was a member (since 1964) and past president of the Cosmopolitan Club of Roanoke, and was a leader of the club in organizing the annual Cosmopolitan Track Meet beginning in 1966. Mr. Whiteside served 28 years as a football official, and was a past secretary of the Western Virginia Football Officials Association.
Surviving are his wife of 27 years, Rebecca "Becky" M. Whiteside, of Roanoke; three children and their spouses, Katherine and Dean Anderson, of Garrison, N.Y., Harry W. III and Joan Whiteside, of Knoxville, Tenn., and Tom and Kate Whiteside, of Durham, N.C.; a brother and his wife, Bob and Carol Whiteside, of Roanoke; two stepchildren and their spouses, Sue and Les Saunders, of Cary, N.C., and David and Ann Watson Irvin, of Richmond; and 13 grandchildren, Micah Hales, August Hales, Emily Whiteside McCoy, Grace Whiteside, Ben Whiteside, Ripley Whiteside, Alice Whiteside, Phoebe Dodge, Elizabeth Hartley, Matthew Hartley, Ben Saunders, Taylor Irvin, and Jack Irvin.
A memorial service will be conducted 1 p.m. on Wednesday, April 14, 2010, from Virginia Heights Baptist Church with the Reverend C. Nelson Harris officiating. Interment will be private. The family will receive friends during a reception at the church immediately following the service.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggest memorials be made to Virginia Heights Baptist Church, 2014 Memorial Avenue, SW, Roanoke, Va. 24015 or to the Cosmopolitan Track Scholarship Fund, Attention: Randy Lower, 1234 Maple Avenue, SW, Roanoke, Va. 24016. Arrangements by Oakey's Roanoke Chapel, 540-982-2100.