Charlie Lee Whittle, Jr, 90, of Apopka, FL., passed away peacefully at his home on July 29, following a long and productive life. He was the father of Robbie L Whittle and Wendy L Wagner and son of Charlie Lee Whittle, Sr. & Lucy Whittle White of Gadsden County, FL. Born January 8, 1933, in Hawkins Lane, Florida, this remarkable man was an accomplished business leader. Chuck attended Greensboro High School. He began his career in earthmoving and construction with Strickland Construction Company, Quincy, FL. He moved to Portland, OR in the late 1940s. He was drafted and honorably served as a Master Sergeant with the US Army 84th Engineering & Construction Battalion in Korea from 1948 to 1953. He received numerous citations and medals for his service. After his tour, he joined Oman-Farnsworth-Wright Construction as a superintendent and built the first airstrips in Pakistan. Returning stateside, after a job opportunity in Puerto Rico, he moved to Mifflintown, PA in the late 1960s as a superintendent with D E Smith, Inc. In 1974, he moved to Orlando, FL and became co-owner and president of Shannon-Whittle Construction Company in Longwood, FL. In 1991, Shannon-Whittle transitioned into WLW Construction, which he founded and named after his daughter Wendy, as a woman-owned business, located in Sorrento, FL. Additionally, Mr. Whittle’s accomplishments include serving on the board of directors for Freedom Bank and American Pioneer Bank, both in Orlando, FL. He served on the board for the American Cancer Society, with his wife Shirley A Whittle, they ran the Tee-Up for Life Charity Golf Tournament. He and Shirley hosted Presidential candidate Gerald R. Ford and Governor Bob Graham in their home. His friend, Mr. Arnold Palmer hosted his 50th Birthday celebration. He held his private pilot license. He owned and enjoyed flying four personal planes, his most favorite being a Mooney M20F 4-seat Executive. Mr. Whittle is survived by his wife Monique Gray Whittle, a son, Robbie Whittle (Karen), their sons Kelsey, Brandon, and Joshua, a daughter, Wendy Wagner, her sons Justin and Jordan, a step-son, Patrick Tetreault (Milena) their daughters Sara and Salome, a stepdaughter, Melanie Stott (Thomas), their sons Matthew and Preston. He is survived by his siblings Eva Mae Peters, Betty W Clark and Thomas E Whittle, He was predeceased by his sisters Katherine R Thompson, Doris C Tyus and Charolette W Whitten. In addition, he loved 9 nieces and nephews and a number of great-nieces, great-nephews, great-great-nieces, and great-great-nephews- too many to list. Mr. Whittle retired from WLW Construction in 2009. His pastime joys were golfing, fishing, wood-working, and most of all drawing and painting. He was witty, smart, fun-loving and delighted in being the center of attention. A funeral and burial service will be held on Saturday, August 5 at 9am at the JC Whittle Cemetery at Hawkins Lane, off of NW Whittle Road, Liberty County, Florida. Visitation will follow at the Flat Creek Baptist Church Fellowship Hall from 10:30am until 1pm.
Charles McClellan Funeral Home, Quincy, FL., 850-627-7677, is in charge of arrangements.
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