Irene S. Whisnant

HICKORY - Irene Speagle Whisnant, 84, of Hickory, passed away Nov. 25, 2008, at Brian Center in Viewmont after a period of declining health. Irene was born Jan. 29, 1924, in Burke County, to the late James Frank and Phebie Downs Speagle. She was a member of Corinth Baptist Church, where she taught Sunday school and was a media director. She retired as a media teacher assistant for Catawba County Schools. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Quentin Norman Whisnant; a brother, James Arthur Speagle; and a sister, Frances Porell. Surviving are a son, Bobby Norman Whisnant and wife, Emily, of Hickory; five sisters, Pauline Bradshaw and Ruth Lutz, both of Hickory, Dorothy Denniston of Anderson, Ind., Betty Harvey and husband, John, of Salisbury and Peggy Fox and husband, George Edmond, of Conover; a brother, Thomas Ralph Speagle of Clearwater Beach, Fla.; a granddaughter, Vakarma Rogers of Buena Vista, Va.; a grandson, Doron Cook of Conover; and a great-grandson, Logan Rogers of Buena Vista, Va. The funeral service will be held at 3 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 29, 2008, at Corinth Baptist Church, with the Rev. William Kanupp officiating. The body will be placed in the church 30 minutes prior to the service. Pallbearers will be Bruce Fox, Roy Johnson, Troy Stallings, Doron Cook, Tommy Speagle and Randy Speagle. Honorary pallbearers will be Bill Stallings and Thurman McCaslin. Interment will follow in the church cemetery. The family will receive friends from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Friday, Nov. 28, 2008, at Hickory Funeral Home. Memorial may be made to Palliative Care Center & Hospice of Catawba Valley Inc., 3975 Robinson Road, Newton, N.C. 28658 or Corinth Baptist Church, building fund, 7929 W. N.C. 10, Vale, N.C. 28168. Hickory Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.