Max Houston Whitley Sr.

Max Houston Whitley, Sr. age 89, of Stanley, North Carolina, passed away on Monday, January 19, 2026. Max was born September 30, 1936, in Gaston County, North Carolina, of the late Houston Ellis Whitley and Margaret Lenira Robinson.
Max is survived by his children, Max Houston Whitley, Jr. (Lorie) of Stanley, NC, and Donna Whitley Smith (Hap) of Iron Station, NC; 4 grandchildren; and 8 great-grandchildren.

In addition to his parents, Max is preceded in death by his wife of 56 years, Jane Ella Hinkle, and second wife, Sylvia Dunn Cross and daughter Margaret Whitley.

Max was a 1954 graduate of Stanley High School. He served in the Air National Guard and the NC National Guard. Max was a master machinist and troubleshooter. He was a 3rd generation worker and foreman for Gaston County Dyeing Machine Company, where he worked for over 30 years. After retirement, Max built his tinker shop in his back yard. You could find him daily working on anything that had a small engine. He could fix anything. Even at an early age his grandchildren knew if something was broken, “Papaw can fix it!”

A celebration of life for Max will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, March 14, 2026, at First Presbyterian Church in Mount Holly , NC, with the Reverend Janet DeWater officiating. Interment was a private service at Hillcrest Gardens Cemetery, Mt. Holly, NC. The family will receive friends one hour at the church prior to the service.

Memorials may be made to the Helping Hands Ministry at Denver United Methodist Church, PO Box 661, Denver NC 28037.

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