- Date Of Birth: May 31, 1926
- Date Of Death: June 30, 2016
- State: Georgia
If one were to describe the life of Van Whitlock, it would be most applicable to the manner in which he lived his life.
Van was born May 31, 1926, in the farming community of Shake Rag in Fayette County, Georgia. He was one of ten children born to the late Marcus Fletcher and Lillie Ora Chandler Whitlock, a well-known family who made their living off the land and their skills as farmers. Large families were the norm because of the many hands needed to keep a large farm going.
Van was the last of the surviving children. As he completed his education, the country was deep into the midst of World War II and like so many of his day, he answered the call and was inducted into the Army. He served until the end of the war. In 1952 he married JoAnn Newby and for the next 64 years, they shared a wonderful life together. Their family became an integral part of the life of White Oak Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church. For 30 years, he was a loyal employee of The Ford Motor Company assembly plant in Hapeville.
Surviving Van is his wife Jo Ann Newby Whitlock and his daughters Jill Whitlock Wilson, Jerri Whitlock, and Chris Ritts. He was an exemplary grandfather to Joshua Hunter and Donna Wilson, Christopher Jay Wilson, Cody Alexander Whitlock, and Michael Sergey Whitlock. His great-grandchildren are Noah Wilson-Sizemore, J. D. Wilson, Kynsli Wilson, and Kyptin Wilson.
