Robert Alvin Whitehorne

Robert Alvin Whitehorne

Robert A. "Al" Whitehorne, 84, formerly of Williamsburg, died on Thursday, May 6, 2010, from complications of Alzheimer's Disease.

A memorial service will be held at Williamsburg United Methodist Church 2 p.m. Thursday, June 3, 2010, with a reception following.

Mr Whitehorne was born in Portsmouth, Virginia, on June 20, 1925, to the late Stanford L. and Ruth Speight Whitehorne. He was preceded in death by his brother, Stan.

He is survived by Margaret Kirby Whitehorne, his high school sweetheart and wife of 62 years; a brother, Charles and his wife, Dolores, of Ocala, Florida; daughter, Lynn Sacco and her husband, Michael, of Vienna, Virginia; a son, Robert Whitehorne and his wife, Carolyn, of Grand Junction, Colorado; daughter, Cynthia Moore and her husband, Bill, of Charlottesville; grandchildren, Jeffrey, Emily, Melissa, Bryan, Julia, and Colin; and great- grandchildren, Madilyn and Sienna.

Mr. Whitehorne graduated from Woodrow Wilson High School, Portsmouth in 1942. After serving with the United States Marines during the war, he earned a Masters Degree in Electrical Engineering at Virginia Tech in 1946. He had a successful career as an engineer and business executive at IBM, Michelin and The Sperry and Hutchinson Corporation. After leaving the business world in 1979, he joined the faculty of the University of South Carolina Graduate Business School as Lecturer and career counselor. In 1985, he became Senior Lecturer and Director of Business Relations at the College of William and Mary. Al and Margaret resided in Williamsburg for 22 years prior to moving to Charlottesville in 2008.

Mr. Whitehorne was an active member of Williamsburg United Methodist Church, serving in many capacities and teaching Sunday school.

He loved tennis and golf, investing, American history and politics, and most of all spending time with loved ones. Friends and family alike will all miss "Big Al".

The family would like to thank the caregivers and staff at the Colonnades and Hospice of the Piedmont for their wonderful care and support.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that memorial contributions be made to Hospice of the Piedmont, 675 Peter Jefferson Way, Suite 300, Charlottesville, VA 22911.


This obituary was originally published in the Daily Progress.