William Craig
William ‘Bubba’ Craig, 47, of Pineville, died June 17, 2012.
Born Feb. 13, 1965, in Rock Hill, S.C., Mr. Craig was a son of William Craig Jr. and Betsy Caldwell.
He graduated from Northwestern High School before becoming an emergency medical technician and firefighter for Pineville Volunteer Fire and Rescue and with Presbyterian Hospital’s critical care transport team. He later worked with Duke Energy as a safety training specialist at the Mount Holly training center.
Survivors include his wife of 19 years, Susan Griffin Craig; children Scooter, Katie and Jacob; sisters Brooke Kaiser and Beth Champion; and nieces and nephews.
A funeral service was held June 20 at Harrison United Methodist Church.
James Cornell Jr.
James Cornell Jr., 71, of Charlotte, died June 17, 2012, at Presbyterian Hospital.
Born Dec. 19, 1940, in Charlotte, Mr. Cornell was a son of James and Catherine Parker Cornell.
He attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, North Carolina State University and Oregon State. He was a member of N.C. State’s Chancellor’s Club, as well as SCAN and the Entomological Society. He was a two-time Fulbright Scholar.
He taught at Appalachian State University, Lees-McRae College and N.C. State at the college level, and then Independence and East Mecklenburg high schools in the international baccalaureate program.
He traveled the world, visiting India, Kenya, Peru, Mexico and France. He was an avid naturalist and discovered many new species of beetles, including six that are named after he and his family. His collections are exhibited in museums around the world, and he is renowned for his work on Staphylinidae.
He won the bronze in the International Stamp Exhibit and was a philanthropist, helping create businesses in Africa.
Survivors include his wife of 47 years, Sandra Cornell; sons James Cornell and Thomas Cornell; and nieces and nephews.
A funeral service was held June 21 at McEwen Funeral Service.
Memorials: Young Entomologist Society, 6907 W. Grand River Ave., Lansing, MI 48906; Heifer International, www.Heiferinternational.org.
Darwin Blaine
Darwin Blaine, 85, died June 17, 2012.
Born July 14, 1926, in Brooklyn, N.Y., Mr. Blaine was a son of the late Alice James Blaine and Norfleet Edward Blaine.
He attended Polytechnic Preparatory Country Day School before serving in the 1st Division of the U.S. Marine Corps from 1944 to 1946 in Okinawa and China.
He later attended Johns Hopkins University.
He worked for Borden Chemical Company and later opened Mecklenburg Bindery.
He was a member of Myers Park Presbyterian Church, where he taught Sunday school and was a deacon and elder. He was a volunteer of Friendship Trays and Urban Ministry.
His brother, Norfleet Blaine Jr., preceded him in death.
Survivors include his wife of 60 years, Nancy Curtis Blaine; children Darwin Blaine Jr., Curtis Blaine, and his wife, Peggy, and Allyson Blaine Haenlein, and her husband, Walter; eight grandchildren; and nieces and a nephew.
A funeral service was held Saturday, June 23, at Myers Park Presbyterian Church.
Memorials: Urban Ministry Center, 945 N. College St., Charlotte, NC 28206; Myers Park Presbyterian Church Music Fund, 2501 Oxford Place, Charlotte, NC 28207.
Mark Alexander
Mark Alexander, 57, of Charlotte, died June 18, 2012, at Carolinas Medical Center.
Born June 17, 1955, in Charlotte, Mr. Alexander was a direct descendent of Hezakiah Alexander. He enjoyed reading, photography, nature and snow sculpting.
In addition to his parents, his brother, David Alexander, preceded him in death.
A funeral service was held Sunday, June 24, at Providence Presbyterian Church.
Memorials: Providence Presbyterian Church, 10140 Providence Church Lane, Charlotte, NC 28277.
Henry Griffin
Henry ‘Dub’ Griffin, 83, of Charlotte, died June 18, 2012, at home after a long illness.
Born Sept. 8, 1928, in Monroe, Mr. Griffin was a son of Benjamin and Judith Knight Griffin.
He graduated from Charlotte Technical High School before working as a State Farm Insurance agent.
He was a member of Calvary Church.
Survivors include his wife of 61 years, Anita Williams Griffin; son, Mike Griffin, of Indian Trail; daughters Debbie Griffin, of Charlotte, and Becky Griffin, of Apex; brother, Carl Griffin; sister, Jackie Griffin; and six grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
A funeral service was held Monday, June 25, at Calvary Church, conducted by the Rev. Phil Divine.
Memorials: Calvary Church, 5801 Pineville-Matthews Road, Charlotte, NC 28226.
Edward Beale
Edward Beale, 69, of Charlotte, died June 19, 2012, at Presbyterian Hospital due to complications following surgery.
Born July 17, 1942, in Danville, Va., Mr. Beale was a son of the late Raymond and Mary McDowell Beale.
He worked on the family farm before going to Virginia Tech. He later taught at a community college, worked with the Corps of Engineers in Florida and the Federal Aviation Administration before opening an engineering consulting office for Delta Airport Consultants.
He enjoyed traveling with his wife, Sylvia Ann Knight Beale, and visited the Caribbean, Europe, New Zealand, Australia, Tahiti and Russia. He also enjoyed golfing at Providence Country Club and dancing with his wife.
Survivors include his brothers Raymond Beale Jr. and James Beale; step-daughter, Tonya Martin, and her husband, Mark; step-son, Troy Burns, and his wife, Tammy; and six step-grandchildren.
A funeral service was held Saturday, June 23, at McEwen Funeral Service, conducted by the Rev. Jim Lytle.
Frederick Whittaker
Frederick Whittaker, 45, of Charlotte, died June 19, 2012.
Born Aug. 19, 1966, in Raleigh, Mr. Whittaker was a son of Patricia Gery Whittaker and the late Frederick Whittaker.
He attended Myers Park High School and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He was a member of the Chi Phi fraternity.
He was president of Home Realty and Management Company of Charlotte, and was with RBC Bank. He was a member of the Charlotte Country Club, the Charlotte City Club and the Dunes Club.
He was a member of Myers Park Presbyterian Church, where he was a member of the ACTS Class and taught Sunday school.
He enjoyed spending time with his family and playing golf.
Survivors, in addition to his mother, include his wife, Mary Finley Henderson Whittaker; children Frederick ‘Markland’ Whittaker III, Mary Thomas Whittaker and Stephen Whitner Whittaker; sister, Elizabeth ‘Beth’ Whittaker Ryan; and nieces and a nephew.
A funeral service was held Friday, June 22, at Myers Park Presbyterian Church.
Memorials: Whittaker Educational Trust, c/o Michelle Nemanich, Wells Fargo, 1065 Providence Road, Charlotte, NC 28207.
Mary B. Kirby
Mary Burke Kirby, 84, of Charlotte, died June 21, 2012 at her residence.
Born July 25, 1927, in Fulton County, Ga., Mrs. Kirby was a daughter of the late John Burke and Edith Irene Pounds.
She worked for Charlotte Pipe Foundry as a receptionist.
She attended Park Road Baptist Church.
Her husband, Frederick Kirby, brothers, John Burke and Frank Burke, and twin sister, Margaret Johnson, preceded her in death.
Survivors include her daughter, Na’Nette White, and her husband, Jerald, of Indian Trail; and two grandchildren.
A funeral service was held Saturday, June 23, at McEwen Funeral Service.
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