Obituary of Douglas Richard Whitener

A graveside service celebrating the life of Douglas Richard Whitener, Sr., 69, of Hopkins, SC will be held at 11:30 a.m. Saturday, February 2, 2013 in Greenlawn Memorial Park. The family will receive friends from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Friday evening at Greenlawn Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Shriners Hospitals for Children, Office of Development 2900 Rocky Point Drive, Tampa, FL 33607 in Doug's memory. On-line condolences may be sent to www.greenlawn-columbia.com. The family has entrusted Greenlawn Funeral Home with the arrangements. Mr. Whitener departed this earthly life on Tuesday, January 29, 2013. He was born in Morganton, NC on May 25, 1943 to William Frederick Whitener and Evelyn Raye Epley Whitener. Doug graduated from Olympia High School, Class of 1961. He was a veteran of the United States Army Reserves and also an active Shriner. Doug enjoyed doing charity work with the Shriners and he was an avid fan of NASCAR. After retiring from SCE&G after 32 years of dedicated service, Doug enjoyed working at the South Carolina State Fairgrounds during his leisure time and he loved his Ford pickup truck. Mr. Whitener was predeceased by his wife, Melba Floyd Whitener; a son, Douglas "Richie" Whitener, Jr.; his father, William Whitener; his mother, Evelyn Ray Epley Whitener Parrish. Surviving are his loving daughter and son-in-law, Lisa and Robbie Kelley; four grandchildren, Brandon Holland, Nicholas Kelley, Zoe Kelley, and Hayley Hancock; two brothers, William and Tommy Whitener; a nephew, Jonathan Whitener; a brother-in-law, John Nicholson; his Olympia Alumni Buddies; a host of other loving relatives and friends that will miss him dearly; A special thanks and appreciation is extended to Unihealth on Forest Drive and also to the Agape Hospice House for their love, care, and support of Doug during his illness.