Stanley Whitlow

Stanley A. Whitlow Jr. was loving husband, father and grandfather whose vigor for life conquered obstacles and brought him success not only as a business leader but primarily as a family man. He was hard working yet fun loving, driven but still able to enjoy what mattered mosthis family and friends. Stan was born to Stanley A. Sr. and Mary (Christopherson) Whitlow on August 24, 1928 in Muskegon, Michigan. It was a time of American advancement in industry and transportation. Charles Lindbergh made his solo flight across the ocean and Detroits own Henry Ford began producing automobiles along an assembly line. In keeping with Michigans major industry, Stans father was employed as an auto body repairman. His mother was busy at home caring for five children: Stan, Norma, Howard, Pam and Darlene, the two youngest being born after Stan was out of the house and married. With his older siblings, Stan enjoyed the kind of childhood a boy should have: playing lots of baseball with friends on Park Street in Muskegon Heights. Stan attended Muskegon Heights schools and by the time he reached high school, the rivalry with cross-town Muskegon High School was firmly established. However, Stan broke the barrier when he met one of Muskegon Highs cheerleaders, and the lovely Joyce Wilks was well worth the risk. The two of them began dating and fell in love. They made a lifelong commitment to each other when they married on September 26, 1947. They were young, but Stan was serious about taking on responsibilities that provided a good home for a family that was soon to come. Stan and Joyce first lived on Isabella Avenue in downtown Muskegon while he worked at Shaw Walker and took a night job at a gas service station. They welcomed a family of three boys over a period of four years: Al was born in 1948, Steve in 1949 and Anthony in 1951. In time, Stan became an insurance agent for Metropolitan Life and worked hard at his job. The boys grew up with a memory of their dad having to make sales calls in the evenings and going to clients homes to collect payments. Yet, he was always home for dinner and never missed his sons baseball games. As a family, they went on camping vacations and savored the memory of cross-country road trips to Disneyland. Stan had his priorities straightfamily first. In 1955, the family moved to Norton Shores on Henry Street where they lived for the next ten years. Stan eventually became the office manger for Metropolitan Life in Muskegon, and life just got more fun as time went on. He and Joyce had a great social group of friends, and they liked to hang out together whether they were playing Bridge or having a party. Their house was always a welcome place, made all the more inviting by Joyces wonderful cooking. When they moved to their present home on Rousell in 1965, the house turned into a gathering place for their sons friends as well. It became all the more popular when they installed a pool and hosted many-a pool party. The Whitlow house was definitely the fun house, and Stan and Joyce loved having their kids around. Stan also enjoyed his leisure away from home. He liked to go huntingusually for pheasant or partridgeand he always had Springer Spaniel dogs that hunted with him. He took up fishing and got so hooked he would go out in any kind of weather. He managed inclement conditions just fine with his big fishing boat, the Whits End, that allowed him to hit the Big Lake (Michigan) and fish for salmon. Amazingly, Stan also found time to play golf and continue to hone his Bridge game. With all his experience, Stan was eager to teach others, so when the boys became adults and spent time with their friends, Stan taught them all how to play Bridge. Having become successful enough in his job, Stan was able to retire in his mid fifties after 40 years of service to Met Life. He and Joyce took the time to travel and went on many cruises in retirement. Then, in his early sixties, Stan contracted cancer and had one lung removed. A year later, he was diagnosed with brain cancer and underwent surgery. Remarkably, he beat the disease! If attitude is a weapon in the fight, Stan had the arsenal: he lived life to the fullest and didnt let anything get him down. Of course, Stan had a lot to live for, especially when he became a grandfather. The grandkids liked being spoiled when they went over to Grandpa and Grandmas house. Among the highlights of staying overnight was sleeping out in the boat that was trailered in the driveway. Stan and Joyce truly loved being grandparents and it showed. Those grandchildren and all of Stans family were saddened by his death on Sunday, March 23, 2008 at the age of 79. In his latter years, Stans body had begun to fail but never his spirit. He remained a feisty man whose very robust love of life is the legacy he leaves to his beloved family and cherished friends. Stanley A. Whitlow Jr. is survived by his wife of 60 years, Joyce; 3 sons, Al Whitlow of Muskegon, Stephen (Esther) Whitlow of Muskegon and Anthony (Raylene) Whitlow of Muskegon; grandchildren; Heather Whitlow, Laurel (Linden) Peterson, Shannon Whitlow and Tyler Whitlow; 1 brother, Howard Whitlow of Muskegon; 3 sisters, Norma Wiseman of Muskegon, Pam (Dennis) Popps of Muskegon and Darlene Schugars of Florida. A service to celebrate Stans life will be held Thursday, April 3, 2008, 11:00 AM at Clock Chapel. Interment at Oakwood Cemetery. Relatives and friends are invited to meet the family on Wednesday, 6-8 PM at Clock Life Story Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the American Red Cross, Alzheimer's Association, Harbor Hospice. To leave a memory of Stan or to sign the online guest book, visit www.lifestorynet.com.