Robert Marvin "Bob" Whitley

Robert Marvin “Bob” Whitley, 82, of Columbia, passed away on Tuesday, January 9, 2024. Born on November 8, 1941, in Albemarle, North Carolina, he was the son of Marvin McKinley Whitley and Mary Neal Poplin Whitley. Bob attended Wingate University and graduated from Lenoir-Rhyne College with a bachelor’s degree in business administration. He was employed for over 30 years by General Electric, first with GE Credit Corporation, then as a sales manager for GE Appliances. Bob was an honorary member of New Life Community Church in Irmo, SC. He was a lifelong fisherman and enjoyed boating on Lake Murray, SC. He also loved gardening, growing and harvesting flowers, fruits and vegetables. A shrewd businessman, he loved getting a deal. For example, he saved seeds from his crops each year rather than buying new ones year after year, and cultivated cuttings from plants to grow and share with family and friends. Bob is survived by his high school sweetheart and loving wife of 59 years, Mary Jo Winn Whitley; his daughters, Brinn Strange (Ben) of Chapin; Jill Lawson (Wayne) of Inman; and Jo Leigh Wells (Seth) of Irmo; and his grandchildren, Ashlyn Ray; Kaitlyn Eargle; Lanie Lawson; and Brayden and Whitley Wells. He is also survived by his sister, Judy McLendon (T-Boe) of Matthews, NC and numerous nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his parents. A funeral service for Bob will be held on Saturday, January 13, 2024, at 2:00 p.m. in the chapel of Temples-Halloran Funeral Home. The Reverend Ray Hewitt will officiate. Burial will follow the service in Bush River Memorial Gardens. The Family will greet friends from 1:00 p.m. until 2:00 p.m. at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you consider a gift to Harvest Hope Food Bank or Oliver Gospel Mission of Columbia, SC in Bob’s memory.