Whitlow, Michael Ray

Michael “Mike” Ray Whitlow, of Oakvale, West Virginia, departed this world to begin his new life on the evening Friday, October 20th, 2023, after a hard-fought battle with lung cancer at Lewis Gale Hospital Montgomery, in Blacksburg, Virginia. He was surrounded by his loving wife and her family. He fought to keep breathing until his daughter, as he called her, his “hero girl”, Erine, arrived to hold his hand one last time.

Mike was born in Lurich, Virginia on December 17,1955. He was 67 years old. He was a graduate of Narrows High School. He retired from the Celanese in 2005 and was a site manager for V&M Recycling in Wytheville, Virginia up until just before his passing. In his younger years, he enjoyed playing the drums, basketball and baseball. He loved music. He often spoke of his most influential coach growing up, Bill Patteson, and passed the values he learned to his daughter, Erine.

He spent the best years of his life with the love of his life, his beautiful wife, Debbie. Debbie was his best friend, and his soulmate. Debbie provided him with the love and support of not just her but her loving family as well as they welcomed him with loving arms. He adored his “partner” Conner, who also shared his love for playing the drums. Debbie showed Mike the value of being loved. She led him to being a better man and accepting God and Jesus Christ as his savior. Their time on earth will never be enough compared to the eternity they will have as he is already planning their vacations, train rides and adventures for them together, when they meet again one day.

Mike loved to fish, especially with his girls when they were younger. They spent many weekends together on the lake catching fish together. He enjoyed watching football and was a true Atlanta Braves baseball fan. He loved teaching his girls everything about the game of baseball and passed that love of the game on to them. He loved his daughters Beth and Erine with everything in him. He was the original “Bucket Dad”. He spent many days and nights sitting on a bucket teaching his daughter Erine how to pitch fastpitch softball and passing on what he saw as Coach Patteson values. It didn’t matter what Erine and Beth were involved in; he was passionate about being present as much as possible for them at all of their events. He was proud of them and their accomplishments growing up and in life after they were grown.

He was preceded in death by his parents, James and Clara Whitlow; and first wife Tamela. He leaves behind to cherish his memory his beautiful bride, Deborah Rachel Whitlow of Oakvale, West Virginia; his daughters, Bethany (Aaron) Pennington of Narrows, Virginia, and Erine (Mike) Cressell of Glen Lynn, VA; grandchildren Hannah and Parker Shuff of Narrows, and Hunter and Emma Miller of Glen Lynn; and his brother, Aubrey (Julana) Whitlow of Wytheville, Virginia He is also survived by his stepdaughter, Michelle Pettrey of Oakvale, stepson, Steven (Jennifer) Rachel of Smithers, WV and his step-grandchildren Madison Whitt, Conner Rachel, Mikayla Rachel, and John Anderson, and his step-grandpup Remy. He also leaves behind many of his Turner cousins, and several loving family members from Debbie’s family, and many friends that are left behind to carry on the memory of him.

The family would like to give a special thanks to the Glen Lyn Fire and Rescue department and the nurses, nurses’ aides, and physicians of Lewis-Gale Hospital Montgomery that worked hard to make sure his last moments in this world were as comfortable and peaceful as possible.

A memorial service will be held on Tuesday, October 24, 2023 at 6:00 PM in Kendall Funeral Home with his brother, Reverend Aubrey Whitlow officiating. The family will receive friends during a time of visitation on Tuesday October 24, 2023 from 5:00 PM until 6:00 PM in the Kendall Funeral Home. A guestbook is available to send condolences to the family by visiting www.kendallfuneralhome.com. The staff of Kendall Funeral Home are honored to serve the Whitlow family.