Linwood Earl Whitley

Linwood “Earl” Whitley, 94, of North Garden died peacefully Wednesday, May 11, 2022 at his farm with his wife, Marilyn Whitley, dear friend, Judy Berger, and Pastor Todd Cothran of Crosslife Community Church, by his side. Born in Newport News on May 26, 1927 he was a son of the late George and Bernice Whitley. Among his many accomplishments was serving in the United States Navy in the Construction Battalion in the Pacific during W.W.II. It was in the Navy he learned his trade as an architect and builder of nearly 1000 homes in his career. He was an avid golfer, yet knew how to keep it fun. He was a Mr. Fixit and could fix anything, including restoring antique Corvettes. On our farm he spent many hours maintaining and grooming it with his big John Deere tractor and Gravely zero-turn mower. But most of all, Earl loved his Lord, Jesus Christ, family and friends with all his heart and soul. They were what kept him rising above difficulties and reinventing himself. In addition to his wife he is survived by his children, Diana Paynter and her husband Jim of Cincinnati, OH, Greg Whitley and his wife Vickie of Annapolis, MD, Sandra Spiro and husband Bruce of Suffolk, VA, Ryan Robey of Richmond, VA, Heather Robey of Annapolis, MD and Gavin Robey and his wife Samantha of Richmond, VA; 13 grandchildren and 9 great-grandchildren. A memorial service and picnic celebrating his life will be held at our farm in North Garden, Sunday, June 26th at 2:00 for any and all. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to Samaritan’s Purse, or Crosslife Community Church, or bring a covered dish to the picnic:)