Francis Alexander Whiteside, Jr.

Francis Alexander Whiteside Jr. "Whit" Gastonia – Francis A. Whiteside Jr. 87 passed away peacefully on March 14, 2012 at his beloved Covenant Village home under the superb care of the Covenant Village staff, Hospice and his children. The family's fondest memories of their father are of him clowning around riding a bicycle backwards with his best friend and their adopted "Uncle Bobo" Albert Richard Morris, or riding their horses at the Lazy Day Ranch, sailing on Lake Norman, camping and spending their summers at Lake Montonia. Whit was born on October 25, 1924, attended the Citadel, served in the US Navy as a gunner on an anti submarine patrol plane during WWII. He graduated from the School of Business at the University of North Carolina in 1949. He was a graduate of the Graduate School of Savings & Loans at the University of Indiana. Whit served as President of First Federal Savings and Loan for 15 years, founded by his father, Mr. F.A. Sr. in 1935. Later he spearheaded a merger to become the largest Savings & Loan in the State. In 1978 he assumed the Chairmanship of the Board of the N.C. Savings & Loan League and served on various prominent committees of both the N.C. and U.S. Savings & Loan League. Whit was devoted to his life long church, First A.R. Presbyterian, and served as its secretary and treasurer as well as Chairman of the Church Board. He was an Eagle Scout in his youth and later served as the District Commissioner for the Boy Scouts. He was a Director and President of the Gastonia Merchants Association, Downtown Development Corp and Director of the Gaston Chamber of Commerce. A lifelong resident of Gastonia, Whit found the one true love for him in Norwalk Conn. and they were married in 1950. He was preceded in death by his wife of 55 years, Mary Magner Whiteside, his parents, Myrtle Rhodes Whitesides of Wilmington, NC and Francis Alexander Whitesides of Gastonia, brother Johnny Whitesides of Morganton and sister Becky Whitesides Miller of Gastonia. He is survived by his brother; Henry Monroe Whitesides and his wife Susanne of Gastonia, and Whit's six children; Richard Grady Whiteside and wife Frances Steinberg of Peka Peka, New Zealand, Rebecca Whiteside Powers and husband, Greg Powers, of Richmond, VA; Ann Whiteside Miller and Husband Richard Miller of Gastonia, James Monroe Whiteside and wife Patricia Herndon Whiteside of Charlotte, David Gregory Whiteside and wife Laurie Wilson Whiteside of Gastonia, Nancy Whiteside Thomas of Belmont; 13 grandchildren; Adrian Miller and wife Marti of Belmont, Philip Miller and wife Juli of Gastonia, Trey Miller of Linville, Michael Powers and wife Kacie of Charlottesville VA, Julia Powers and Emily Powers of Richmond, Brooks Whiteside and Bill Whiteside of Charlotte, Erinn Whiteside and Sarah Whiteside of Gastonia, Katie Thomas, Alex Thomas and Michael Thomas, all of Belmont; 4 great grandchildren; Reaglen, Madelyn Miller of Gastonia and Lennon, Liam Miller of Belmont; Sister in Law, Carole Geoghegan of Walnut Creek, CA. and Brother in Law, Dr. Andrew Miller of Gastonia. Funeral Service will be 11 AM Tuesday, March 20, 2011 at the First A.R. Presbyterian Church 317 S Chester St. Gastonia 28052. Officiating Clergy: Reverend Mark Tankersley and Reverend Matt Kuiken Pallbearers: Grandsons Honorary Pallbearers: Alex Thomas and "The 1924 Group" Private interment will be at Gaston Memorial Park. The family will receive friends at Covenant Village 1351 Robinwood Road, Gastonia, 28054 from 5 PM until 7 PM Monday, March 19, 2012 and from 10 AM until 10:45 AM Tuesday, March 20, 2012, prior to the service at the First AR Presbyterian Church 317 S. Chester St. Gastonia, 28052. Memorials: C/O Gaston Hospice PO Box 3984 Gastonia, NC 28054 or C/O South Mountain Christian Camp PO Box 9; Bostic, NC 28018 southmountainchristiancamp.org and C/O First A.R. Presbyterian Church 317 S Chester St. Gastonia, NC 28052 www.firstarpchurch.org Condolences may be sent to www.mcleanfuneral.com McLean Funeral Directors of Gastonia is serving the Whiteside Family