Margaret Mears Whiting

Margaret "Maggie" Virginia Mears Whiting, 80, of Greenwood, S.C., died Saturday, April 5, 2008, at Hospice House after a short but courageous battle with bone cancer. Born April 21, 1927, in Bridgeton, N.J., she was the daughter of the late Joseph Edward Mears and Mary MacDonald Mears. She was predeceased by her husband, Lt. Col. Charles Segar Whiting (USMC-Ret.), and a son, who died at childbirth. She is survived by two sons, Charles Joseph Whiting of Indian Valley, Va., and Richard Segar Whiting, and wife Wendy, of Greenwood; two granddaughters, Shelley Krista Whiting and Katherine Lee Whiting, also of Greenwood; and two nieces. Before moving to Greenwood in 2002, Whiting was a resident of Newport News, Va. and Concord Wharf, Va. Even though she missed opportunities to pursue a singing career with Glenn Miller and other Big Band greats (her father didn't approve, and she didn't dare disappoint him), Maggie never lost her sense of adventure, which was possibly stoked by her childhood days as the daughter of a hotel manager and her marriage to a career Marine. Moves were second nature to her and constantly brought her in contact with new and interesting places and people. She took numerous trips overseas to Europe, with Italy being her favorite to visit and the destination of no fewer than four trips in recent years. She ventured to Switzerland twice and made a jaunt through Austria and Germany. She loved roller coasters and rode every ride available at Busch Gardens in Williamsburg, Va. The more turns, drops, twists and loops the better! Even at age 70. Even though her husband died at age 52, she fulfilled a dream they had shared by living aboard a sailboat for three years. In 1988, she joined her good friend Barbara Dorr on a return trip from Bermuda to Virginia, aboard a small sailboat. In March 2004, Maggie slipped through the window of a NASCAR race car at Lowe's Motor Speedway and drove eight laps around the track (yes, by herself!), reaching a top speed of 108 mph. At the time, she was said to be the oldest woman who had done the Richard Petty Driving Experience. That day, she was the only woman driver, as well as the oldest of the group of drivers. She was proud of the fact that she "beat out guys in their 20s and 30s." Maggie was deeply involved in politics as she constantly read books and opinion columns, watched political TV shows and actively campaigned for people and causes she believed in. More often than not, she found herself volunteering and campaigning for losing presidential candidates. But she never gave up, always standing up for what she thought was right and what was best for her country, her children and her grandchildren. One year, while living on Virginia's Eastern Shore, Maggie received three write-in votes for governor - none of which were cast by her or family members. Blessed over the years with many good friends, Maggie was ever the conversationalist and entertainer. She could - and did - engage anyone in conversation on nearly any given topic. With Maggie around, a hostess never had to worry that awkward silence would invade a good time as Maggie always had a tale to share. Maggie enjoyed life, loved her family and in her own way fought to preserve her country and love her God. A memorial service will be conducted at 11 a.m. Friday, April 11, at Westminster Presbyterian Church, with the Rev. Dr. Christopher Leonard officiating. The family will receive friends at the home of her son, Richard, at 106 Wendover Road (Forest Hills), Greenwood. In lieu of flowers, Maggie requests that donations be made to the Class of 1947, Virginia Military Institute, VMI Foundation, P.O. Box 932, Lexington, Va., 24450 or to HospiceCare of the Piedmont, 408 W. Alexander Ave., Greenwood, SC 29646.