Charles W. Whitehead

WHITEHEAD, Charles W. Jr., 88, of Tampa, passed away December 4, 2011. Charlie was an avid fisherman and hunter, completely devoted to his family. He was born on July 28, 1923 in Montevallo, Ala. and moved to Tampa as a child, where he grew up and graduated from H.B. Plant High School in 1941. His love for flying led him to join the Army Air Corps in 1942, where he was a B-17 pilot during WWII, receiving numerous decorations including the Distinguished Unit Citation. After the war, Charlie received his undergraduate and master's degree from the University of Florida. He was a flight instructor from 1950-1960 at Bartow Air Base, a pilot training school for the USAF. During his flying career, he flew more than 100 different types of aircraft and achieved the rank of Lt. Col. Charlie then began his career in banking and received a MBA degree from LSU's School of Banking in 1965. He was the former president of Avon Citrus Bank, Citrus County Bank and Carrollwood State Bank. In 1984, he retired as Senior Vice President of Barnett Bank. Charlie's many professional and social organizations included past president of the Zephyrhills, Avon Park and NW Tampa Rotary Club; member of Quiet Birdman and Int'l Fishing Hall of Fame; and serving on the Board of Trustees for South Florida Community College. Survivors include his wife of 68 years, Billie; son, Bud Whitehead and his wife Sharon; daughter, Rhonwyn Ratchford; 3 grandchildren, Rachel Whitehead, Andrew and Bob Ratchford; sister-in-law, Nina Whitehead; Canadian relatives, the Nadrofskys and Kniffens; and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his father, Winston Whitehead; mother, Artelle Whitehead Kniffen; and brother, Walter M. Whitehead. Funeral services will take place on Thursday December 8, 2011 at 11AM with a visitation one hour prior at Marsicano-B.Marion Reed-Stowers Funeral Home. Interment with military honors will follow at Myrtle Hill Memorial Park.