Donald Whitney

STAFFORD, VA — Mr. Donald Howard Whitney, Sr., of Stafford, VA, a former resident of Charlotte, NC for half a century, was called home to the Lord on Saturday May 28, 2016, while his family was by his side at Mary Washington Hospital in Fredericksburg, VA. A devoted son, brother, husband, father and grandfather; a dedicated Soldier, employee, executive, friend and neighbor; a respected and compassionate supervisor, manager and citizen, Don Whitney was an exceptionally good and decent man who lived an exemplary life of service, concern and commitment to others. The oldest of three sons born to Giles Leonard and Irene McDowell Whitney, Don was born January 31, 1936, in Lowell, MA where he was raised at 567 Princeton Boulevard and subsequently attended Lowell Business School. Giles worked constantly and without complaint to provide for his family. As a business owner, he operated a salvage truck six days a week while also working as a dyer at Hockmeyer Corduroy in Lowell, MA at least five days a week. Irene not only raised and cared for her sons but she took on the responsibility of caring for their extended families. Don joined the United States Army Reserve as an enlisted Soldier while still a teenager. He served during the Cold War, earned the rank of Staff Sergeant and received an honorable discharge upon completing his military service. Don met and later married the former Dawn Elaine Belton of Mount Airy, NC, the second of three beautiful daughters born to Archie Walter Belton and Nanabet Johnson Belton of Mount Airy after he moved to Charlotte in 1955 at the urging of the uncle he revered, A. Grant Whitney, Sr. A WWII veteran and leading executive at Belk Stores. Inc., Grant encouraged Don to visit Charlotte and assured him he could always return north to Massachusetts to live if he decided to. Don's career in business enabled him to travel extensively and he did leave Belk, from time to time, to relocate and apply his talents and abilities for the benefit of other leading retailers. But Belk Stores and Charlotte would remain his home. Don served as an executive in the retail industry for 42 years, the overwhelming majority of that time with Belk where he began his career modestly in the basement of their small budget operation in their then-flagship downtown Charlotte store. Don spent much of his career extending Belk's outreach to a broader range of consumers. In doing so, he pioneered innovative discounting strategies that served the interests of both Belk's customers and its owners. Don retired from Belk Stores in the late 1990's to devote more time and attention to his beloved Dawn, the love of his life and the woman he would constantly describe to others by saying, "I could not have had a better wife." Shortly after Dawn went home to the Lord on May 17, 2015, Don moved to Stafford, VA to be closer to his son, David, daughter-in-law, Margaret and granddaughter, Lindsay Mariah Whitney. Don was also loved and cared for by many others, including family and staff at Greenfield Assisted Living in Stafford. In addition to being survived by his family in Stafford, VA, Don's life is celebrated by and his passing mourned by countless others, to include: his eldest son, Donald H. Whitney, Sr., his daughter-in-law, Joy Whitney, his grandchildren, Virginia Tack and Timothy Whitney, his great grandson, Gabriel Tack, his brothers, Leonard and Robert Whitney of Lowell and Chelmsford, MA respectively and their wives, Pam and Ruth, his first cousins, A. Grant Whitney, Jr., The Honorable Frank D. Whitney and Julie Whitney Austin of Charlotte, his sister-in-law, Peggy Chilton of Mount Airy and countless loving nieces, nephews and cousins. A graveside service will be conducted on Saturday, June 4, 2016, at 2:00 PM at Midkiff Cemetery in Mount Airy with Reverend Dwight Sechrist of Fancy Gap Baptist Church and Pastor Perry Huffstetler of Mt. Holly officiating. From 12:30 to 1:30 PM that day, family will receive friends and loved ones at Moody Funeral Home of Mount Airy. Military honors at the graveside will be conducted by the National Guard. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to In Touch Ministries, 4400 Peachtree Road, Atlanta, GA, 30338 or as a proud life member of the National Rifle Association (NRA) and one of freedom's safest defenders for more than 50 years, Don would appreciate contributions to the NRA, 11250 Waples Mill Road, Fairfax, VA 22030. Moody Funeral Service of Mount Airy is serving the Whitney family. Online condolences may be made at www.moodyfuneralservices.com.