Charles David Whitehead, 93, passed away surrounded by close family on Friday, March 6 in Franklin, TN. He was born in Greenwood, MS on August 8, 1921, and at age 18 joined the United States Army Air Corps. He was a Master Sergeant and a flight engineer on a B-29 in World War II. His plane was hit and the pilot killed; the crew survived by ejecting over Iwo Jima. After his service to our Country, he was an insurance agent for Life of Georgia, residing in Starkville for more than 40 years. He was married to Martha Hood Whitehead for 61 years before she died in 2008. They were active members of the First Christian Church in Starkville and he was a life member of the VFW. He was also preceded in death by his son Michael. Survivors include his son Harrison (Tricia); grandchildren Lindsay King (Michael), Charles Whitehead (Lillie), Grace Whitehead and great grandchild Elizabeth Foley Whitehead, all of the Nashville, TN area.
Services will be conducted at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, March 12 at Welch Funeral Home, followed by burial at Oktibbeha Memorial Gardens Park. Visitation will be held prior to the funeral at 10:00 a.m. In lieu of flowers, the family asks for memorial gifts to the Palmer Home for Children in Columbus, MS (www.palmerhome.org). Welch Funeral home, 662-323-5905,