Luther was born May 30, 1928 to the late John Stephen Whitley and Hattie Dail Whitley of Walstonsburg, NC. He graduated from Walstonburg High School, and in 1949 graduated with a Business Administration Degree from UNC - Chapel Hill. He served his country on active duty in the US Air Force during the Korean War from 1952 - 1954, followed by six years in the Air Force Reserves while working as a NC State Auditor of Savings & Loans. During this time, he obtained a private pilot's license at Goldsboro Municipal Airport.
Luther moved to Raleigh to begin a job with Raleigh Federal Savings & Loan as a Controller, and became Vice President of Finance; and served also as Treasurer. Luther was one of three Committee members which researched and installed the first on-line computer teller machines in financial institutions in NC. During this time, he met and married Emma "Emmie" Stephens, a Home Economics teacher at Elm City High School in Wilson County, NC. Together they raised two sons, Stephen and Charles. After almost 20 years with Raleigh Federal Savings & Loan, he began working with Progress Energy as a Systems Analyst for 8 years; and then E. Boyd & Associates (International Trading Corporation) as a Credit Manager for 8 years. During his working career, he was an active member of the Raleigh Lions Club, and longtime member of Trinity Baptist Church in Raleigh. After retiring, he worked many years as an Agricultural Crop Adjuster for Triangle Insurance Co. out of Smithfield, NC, and enjoyed gardening and other outdoor activities.
Luther is preceded in death by his parents John Stephen Whitley and Hattie Dail Whitley; and siblings Nannie Whitley Dildy, Ethelene Whitley Jenkins, Letha Whitley Jones, Ruby Whitley Mangum, John Leroy Whitley, Hattie Mae Whitley Cobb, and William (Bill) Whitley. He is survived by his wife Emma "Emmie" Stephens Whitley of Raleigh; son Stephen and wife Jennifer Smith Whitley, granddaughter Morgan Whitley, and step grandchildren Victor Smith and Samantha Smith all of Kennesaw, Ga.; son Charles Whitley of Raleigh; and several nieces and nephews.
The family will receive friends and relatives at Brown Wynne Funeral Home located at 1701 East Millbrook Road, Raleigh, NC on Sunday, March 3, 2019. Visitation will be from 1:00pm to 1:45pm followed by a service in the Chapel at 2:00pm. Following the service, there will be a private burial at Raleigh Memorial Park in Raleigh, NC.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations may be made to Trinity Baptist Church, 4815 Six Forks Road, Raleigh, NC 27609; or the American Cancer Society, PO Box 22478, Oklahoma City, OK 73123.
