Clyde Marvin Whittle

Clyde Marvin Whittle

January 24, 1940-September 26, 2021

Hartsville, SC

Marvin Whittle, 81, USMC Veteran and Sonoco retiree passed away on Sunday September 26, 2021 in ICU room #1 at Carolina Pines Hospital in Hartsville.

Visitation will be on Monday September 27, 2021, at Norton Funeral Home from 5:00-7:00 p.m. Funeral services will be at North Hartsville Baptist Church on Tuesday September 28, 2021 with Reverend Ladell Humphries officiating. Burial will follow in Magnolia Cemetery in Hartsville with a USMC honor guard. Masonic Rites will be conferred by Hartsville Lodge 173. Pallbearers will be Jimmy Howell, Greg Smith, Ed Howell, Eddie Beck, Steven Watford, and Rocky Atkinson.

Marvin was born at the Powe Hospital in Hartsville, SC, on Wednesday January 24, 1940. His parents were the late Clyde Narvin Whittle 1913-1980 and Blanche Cassidy Kelly Whittle 1909-1967. Marvin’s grandparents were the late Ravenel McBeth “Ralph” Whittle 1873-1958, Cecil Iona Scurry Whittle 1877-1954, and the late Willie C. Cassidy 1882-1938, and Fannie Jane Dixon Cassidy 1888-1961.

Marvin attended Hartsville schools, served in the United States Marine Corps 1958-1962 at Parris Island, Camp Lejeune, and the Armed Forces recruiting station in Albuquerque, NM. After his service in the Marines, Marvin returned to Hartsville and worked in the Sonoco Paper Mill on every machine except #10 from 1962-1998. Marvin was a member of the Sonoco Old Timer’s Club.

Marvin was a member, former deacon, and former Sunday School teacher at North Hartsville Baptist Church. Marvin’s former Hartsville High School teacher Dr. Richard E. Bailey was his minister and friend at NHBC. Marvin became the Bill Baxley Sunday School class teacher after Dr. Bailey died in 2014.

Marvin was a member of the Hartsville Masonic Lodge 173 since 1966, went through the York Rite in Florence, and went through the hot sands of Omar Shrine in Myrtle Beach in 1968.

In earlier years he enjoyed fishing. In earlier years he cut firewood to help keep the house warm in the winter. He bowled for a short time and his longest and most enjoyed hobby was having a vegetable garden and using his International Farmall 140 tractor and working around his fish pond. Marvin drove a Chevrolet truck, no other brand. Marvin enjoyed going to breakfast at Carolina Lunch sometimes sitting at the "liars table". He also enjoyed going to breakfast at Hardees. Marvin also enjoyed old cars and drove his A Model to the Sonoco Old Timers Picnic on at least one occasion.

Marvin and Elaine were married at Cedar Creek Baptist Church in Chesterfield County (where Elaine went to church growing up) on July 30, 1964. Marvin and Elaine lived at 139 Robinhood Road from 1964-1971 and at their current home, 1111 Hunt Drive, since September 1971. They had dogs for pets for many years (usually Boxers) but in more recent years they had cats (only one at a time). For brief periods in various years Marvin also had goats, chickens, and peacocks. Goats, chickens, and peacocks are very susceptible to attack from wild dogs and other predators.

Living in the same neighborhood since 1964 caused them to be close to the other neighbors that had been also been living there for many years. The Howells, Smiths, Winbornes, and Graingers.

Marvin is survived by his wife Carolyn Elaine Griggs Whittle, his son Phillip Marvin “Phil” Whittle of Hartsville, SC, his grandson Zachary William Rigby of Chadds Ford, PA, and his sister Betty (Gene) Watson of Hartsville. Nieces Sedell Lee Rowe, Melissa Watson Norton, and Karen Watson.

Marvin is also survived by Elaine’s family members Loran Griggs, Sharon Parker, Lori Griggs, Cody Griggs, Laz Schechter, and Eilish Schechter.

Marvin is also survived by Zachary’s mother Janine Rigby Phillips and her husband George Phillips of Chadds Ford, PA.

Marvin was preceded in death by his parents listed above and by his half brothers Marion Lee (Ramona Jordan Lee Byrd) and Bobby Kelly. Marvin was also preceded in death by his nephew “Bug” Lee, niece Barbara Lee Wilkes, and great nephew Cody Norton.

Marvin was also preceded in death by Elaine’s family members Colon Griggs, Ida Mae Johnson Griggs, Mary Winburn Teal Griggs, Jeffrey Loran “Chip” Griggs, and Linda Cornelia Gordon Griggs.

Marvin was also preceded in death by Zachary’s other grandparents Charlotte Pruitt Rigby and William C. “Bill” Rigby of Chadds Ford, PA.

Marvin was preceded in death by his oldest son William Daniel Flores 1961-2021 of Albuquerque, NM. William’s mother was Helen Flores of Albuquerque, NM, 1933-2008. Marvin is survived by William’s widow Kim Flores, his grandson Sipriano Flores Jr., and Great-Grandson “Sippy” Flores of Albuquerque, NM and their many family members.

Memorials may be made to North Hartsville Baptist Church, 1105 Patrick Highway, Hartsville, SC 29550.

Norton Funeral Home is honored to be serving the Whittle family.

"Memories are the Legacy of Love"