Johnny Carrol Witmore

Johnny Carrol Witmore October 24, 1935 – March 19, 2013 Johnny Carrol Witmore, 77, passed away at his home Tuesday, March 19, 2013. He was born in Wingate, N.C., the son of the late Robert and Atha Mae Griffin Witmore. After graduation from Wingate High School, he enlisted in the Air National Guard and was subsequently drafted into the U.S. Army. Funeral services will be held 11:00 AM Friday, March 22, 2013 in Gordon Funeral Chapel with burial to follow in Wingate City Cemetery. The family will receive friends prior to the service from 10:00 AM until 10:45 AM. Johnny was a hard worker and a devoted provider for his family. His love for people and a deep desire to serve them led him to capitalize on his skill as a salesman by opening his own highly successful welding supply business, J Witmore's Welding, where staff and customers grew to feel like family. Through Johnny's dedication and principled leadership, J Witmore's Welding ultimately evolved into the widely respected Air Gas/National Welders, in which Johnny continued to work as long as his health allowed. As passionate as he was about people and about his business, Johnny had an equally deep love for the outdoors and sports, particularly hunting, fishing and auto racing. Weekends could find him with his sons and his friends hunting dove, quail or pheasant in season, watching short-track racing or following NASCAR on television. Johnny is survived by his wife, Elizabeth Pearl of Monroe, N.C. and a step-daughter, Michelle Jacobs and husband Junior of Indian Trail. He is also survived by his first wife Arlee and their children: Sherrie Howell and husband Rick of Statesville, N.C.; Patricia Brooks and husband Terry of Concord, N.C.; son, Scott of Stanfield, N.C.; son, Rodney and wife Penny of Monroe, N.C.; brother, Jack Witmore of Matthews; sister, Virginia Rainwater of Matthews; six grandsons and two granddaughters; two step-grandsons; four great grandchildren and one step-great grandchildren. In addition to his parents, Johnny was pre-deceased by his brothers, Charles, Clyde, Bruce and Ben; sisters, Willie Mae Gathings, Gwendolyn Miles and Betty Jo Nash. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial donations be made to Hospice of Union County, 700 W. Roosevelt Blvd. Monroe, N.C. 28110. Published online on March 20, 2013 courtesy of Gordon Funeral Service, Inc. .