John Whitener
Age - 82
November 30, 2023
It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of David Whitener, 82, of High Point, NC on November 23, 2023 at Hospice Home in High Point. David was born in Hickory on September 15, 1941, the son of the late John Lewis and Mary Jo Messick Whitener. In addition to his parents, David was preceded in death by his brother, Dick Whitener. David is survived by his wife, Donna Knollmeyer Whitener; his daughter, Angela Whitener Clark and her husband Todd Clark, of Kernersville, NC and their two daughters, Sarah Clark and Lauren Clark; his son, Rick Whitener and his wife Beth Whitener, of Bolivia, NC and their two daughters, Elisabeth Whitener and Anne Whitener. He is also survived by his sister, Libby Whitener Hale, and her husband, Greg Hale, of Hickory, NC, a brother, Chris Whitener and several nieces and nephews. A 1959 graduate of Hickory High School, David attended Lenoir-Rhyne College before receiving a degree in Mortuary Science from Gupton-Jones Mortuary College in Dallas, TX in 1966. He worked for Drum Funeral Home in Conover, NC until 1970. After a brief stint in the printing business, David joined Bass-Smith Funeral Home in Hickory, NC where he had worked part-time in high school and college. He served as a funeral director and an embalmer until 1979 when he purchased a small manufactured housing supply business from his father, located in Hickory. As he did with everything, David immersed himself in learning about the manufactured housing industry and successfully grew his business over the next several years into a company with locations in NC, SC and VA. He eventually sold his business in 1994. Not one to be idle for long, David started and ran two small businesses out of his basement over the next couple of years. David was a loving husband to his wife, Donna, who he met shortly after high school and was married to for just a month short of 61 years at the time of his passing. He also loved his children and grandchildren and very much enjoyed gathering with his family in the mountains or one of his grandchildren's many school or extracurricular events. He was also a good brother and friend to many. A long-time resident of Hickory before moving to High Point later in life to be near his children and grandchildren, David had many friends that he appreciated and spent time with. David had many diverse interests and passions in life. Among others, David was an avid enthusiast of motorcycles and airplanes. He enjoyed reading history, particularly World War II aviation. He rode motorcycles much of his life and after selling his business, he rode extensively around the United States, often riding to bike rallies, aviation fly-ins and twice to Alaska. He also had a love of flying that led him to getting his private pilot's license. He would often fly to his visit his store locations as well as aviation fly-ins. He enjoyed flying to Oshkosh, Wisconsin for the annual air show. His biggest flying adventure came when he joined a group flying through the Caribbean, hopping from island to island, almost to South America before returning home. He was a proud member of the Experimental Aviation Association and the Man Will Never Fly Society. He was also an active member with the Masonic Lodge #343. David will be laid to rest in Oakwood Cemetery in Hickory during a graveside service on Wednesday, November 29, 2023 at 11:00AM. The family will receive friends at Bass-Smith Funeral Home at 10:00AM prior to the service for forty-five minutes. A reception at First United Methodist Church will follow the graveside service at 12:00PM. In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests memorials be made to First United Methodist Church in Hickory, NC or Hospice of the Piedmont in High Point, NC. Bass-Smith Funeral Home in Hickory is serving the Whitener family.Show more
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