OCEAN ISLE BEACH — George Lee Whitley, 49, formerly of Holden Beach, passed away unexpectedly from pneumonia and a heart attack Friday, Jan. 4, 2019.
George was born July 13, 1969, in Charlotte, where George lived until attending college and graduating from East Carolina University with honors in 1991 with a B.S. Degree in Industrial Science and Technology.
October 19, 1990, George was voted member of Beta Mu Chapter of Epsilon Pi Tau, The International Honorary Professional Fraternity for Education in Technology School of Industry & Technology, East Carolina University.
In 1991, George was awarded the Kenneth L. Bing scholarship presented by Epsilon Pi Tau, Beta Mu Chapter East Carolina.
George always wanted to fly airplanes commercially, and so prior to graduating from ECU, George attended and graduated from Lenoir Community College with an Aviation Management Degree. On April 5, 1990, the Department of Transportation Federal Aviation Administration graduated George from the Pilot Proficiency Federal Aviation Administration Ground School Curriculum for approved Instrument Rating June 15, 1988, and in 1989, he was certified as fully accredited member of the American Medical Support Flight Team by the Federal Aviation Administration and was elected as flight team leader.
George’s career path took him first into the motion picture and television production business starting as production assistant, and quickly distinguished himself as a stellar location scout and assistant location manager and location manager among other positions.
George worked on many motion picture productions to mention just a few are: “The Hudsucker Proxy,” “Jungle Book,” “To Gillian on her 37th Birthday,” “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles,” “Date With An Angel,” “Ink Well,” “Bitter Blood,” Stompin’ at the Savoy,” “American Gothic,” “The War,” “The Jackal,” “Empire Records,” “Amos and Andrew,” “The Grave,” and numerous other motion picture and TV productions. George made many wonderful friends while he worked in the film industry, but his true passion was internet technology, and in George’s fashion he changed professional gears, and moved from motion picture productions into the fast paced internet technology field, where he excelled and gained a regional reputation as being one of the best webmasters in the Southeast.
George loved flying, boating, fishing, surfing, nature, farming, all animals (especially the ones he rescued), children, his friends, his family, life, and above all else his heavenly father. He was a Christian, believed Jesus died for our sins, and we only get to heaven through his grace. George now resides in the kingdom of heaven and is soaring above us all. He was his heavenly father’s son before he was his mother’s son, and now he is home forever. No one will miss him more than his mother.
George’s father, Jerry Whitley, who practiced law in Charlotte, preceded his son in death. George is survived by his mother, Martha Lee of Ocean Isle Beach; sister, Ashlyn D. Whitley of Ocean Isle Beach; uncle and aunt, Kent and Dianna Lee of Monroe; and numerous wonderful cousins, Lauren Lee Mitchell (Josh) of Charlotte, and Kent Lee Jr. of Wilmington, Teddy O’Quinn of Wrightsville Beach, Bob O’Quinn (Catherine) of Wrightsville Beach, Allen and Carolyn Lee of Greensboro, Libby Lee Inscoe of Ashville, Beth O’Quinn Murphy (Dan) of Middleburg, Virginia, Travis Lee of Charlotte, Jennifer Lee Cordes (Mike) of Baltimore, Maryland, Allen Lee Jr. (Ann) of Raleigh, Bethany Lee Farabee (Kevon) of Greensboro and many other sweet cousins. Family sends a special thank you to his dearest beloved friends (and ours), especially Chris Klingenberger and Steve Wright Jr. of Wilmington and Wrightsville Beach, Nancy Collins of Charlotte, Libby Featherston, Southport and Mary Weisgerber, New York.
A memorial service for George will be held Saturday, Jan. 19, at Brunswick Funeral Service, 5229 Ocean Highway W., Shallotte. The family will receive friends from 1 to 2 p.m. and service will start at 2 p.m. with Pastor Leon Weber officiating.
Share online condolences with the family at Brunswick Funeral Services.
