BARNARDSVILLE - Michael Reed Whitson, 83, or "Tony" as most people knew him, was born in Buncombe County, NC to the late David Orville Whitson and Agnes Adkins Whitson. Tony was a 1957 graduate of North Buncombe High School. He worked in Los Angeles, California for a short time and then returned to North Carolina for a few months before joining the United States Army. After basic training at Fort Jackson, South Carolina and school at Fort Gordon, Georgia, he was sent to Tok Junction, Alaska for 15 months and then to Northway, Alaska for 14 months. He served with the USA Alaska Communication system on the Alcan Highway. After service time, Tony came back to North Carolina and was married to Mary Alma Yount and went to work for Southern Railway (now Norfolk Southern), where he retired with 39 years of service (31 as a locomotive engineer). After retiring, Tony enjoyed raising cattle and hay. His true love was spending time with his family.
Tony is a member of First Presbyterian Church of Weaverville and the Vance Masonic Lodge #293.
Tony is survived by his wife, Mary Whitson; two children, Lisa Ann Roberts and her husband, Keith, and David Michael Whitson; six grandchildren, Kyle Roberts and his wife Jessie, Kourtni Rogers and her husband Grady, Kaitlyn Norton and her husband Lee, Dalton Whitson, Delaney Goforth and Leah Treadway; ten great-grandchildren, Avery, Garrett, Kady, Kynlee, Kyeler, Karoline, Griffin, Karlyn, Kallie and Kollins; one brother, Charles Whitson and wife Margie; and two sisters, Brenda Angel and Sheron Mull and husband Ronnie.
Funeral services for Tony will be 12:00 p.m., on Wednesday, December 21, 2022 at the First Presbyterian Church of Weaverville, 30 Alabama Avenue, Weaverville, with the Reverends Skip Gillikin and Al Harrell officiating. The family will receive friends from 10:30 a.m. until 12:00 p.m. at the church. Burial will follow the service at West Memorial Park, 40 Roberts Street, Weaverville.