Rodney William Whitney, Sr, 72, of Front Royal, Virginia, passed away at his home on Saturday, March 9, 2024.
A Celebration of Life service will be held on Thursday, March 21 at 1 p.m. at Maddox Funeral Home. The family will receive friends from 11-1 p.m. on Thursday, March 21 at the funeral home.
Mr. Whitney was born May 26, 1951 in Gouverneur, New York, son of the late William Richard and Helen Joyce Hardy Whitney.
Mr. Whitney enlisted in the U.S. Army, at the age of 17 where he would spend time in Vietnam before being honorably discharged. After his discharge from the military, Mr. Whitney was the owner and operator of several service stations in and around Northern Virginia including Circle Sunoco, Chantilly Shell, and Herndon Texaco. Being a mechanic wasn’t just a career, it was his entire life.
Surviving are three sons, Collin Andrew Whitney of Alexandria, Brian Joseph Whitney of Washington State, and Erik Buckingham; three daughters, Pamela Irene Turnmeyer of Linden, Melissa Joy Gordon of Front Royal, and Kristine Michelle Dawson of Front Royal; four brothers, Kelly Whitney of Lovettsville, Rick Whitney of Pennsylvania, Kendall Whitney of Sterling, and Kriss Whitney of Harrisville, New York; five sisters, Lynette Whitney of Lovettsville, Janette Whitney of Luray, Anne Whitney Gonzales of Kentucky, Tammy McCue of South Carolina, and Suann Kling of Natural Bridge, New York; 12 grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by a son, Rodney William “Willie” Whitney, Jr.; and several brothers and sisters.
Memorial contributions may be made to Gentiva Hospice, 420 Neff Ave #110, Harrisonburg, VA 22801.
So sorry to hear this, Pam. My heart goes out to you and the family.
sending our deepest condolences out to you and your family. God give them strength during this difficult time. God bless. rest easy in Heaven.
so sorry for your loss everyone. much love. your cousin Eula Whitney
So sorry for your loss, may your family stay strong in this time of sorrow,
sending our condolences.
So sorry to hear this. I have fond memories of him when we were kids growing up. All my love. Your cousin, Virginia
I am so sorry for your loss.
He’s in a better place. His job was done in this world.
God called him back. God has a job for him. Losing loved ones always hurts. We are all going one day. We’ll meet up again, he is heaven with the rest of his family. I met him once at safeway in sterling with Mr. Kelly. I saw the love both brothers had for each other. Whoever raised all the Whitney family did a very well job. All the Whitney’s I met are humble, nice, kind people they are.
God bless his soul
My condolences to all the family, Rodney will be missed.
I have many memories of all of us cousins visiting each other when we were young. Rod and I were in the same class at Carthage Elementary. RIP Rod you are missed.
Our thoughts and prayers are with you all during this most difficult time.
Sending our deepest condolences,
The Gentiva Hospice Team
What an amazing Big Brother you were. I remember being very young and we were poor. You had gotten your first job and made sure all of us received Christmas gifts that year. I also remember when you sent Mom the furniture, I was only about 6 at the time but she cherished that furniture for many years. As we got older and we went our separate ways, you with all the service stations always had a job for your brothers Steve, Rich, Randy,Rick, Kevin, Kelly and Ken all worked for you at one point and all becoming great mechanics because You gave them a chance.
In most recent years we developed a routine of regular check ins with each other and that I will miss the most.
I worked for Rodney for many years. Started out of high school all the way through college many years later. Very grateful for the opportunity to work with all the brothers but especially Rod. I never started on the Marlboro Reds but still prefer my beer in an ice cold car.
RIP Rodney