Wayne Lee Whitaker

Wayne Lee Whitaker, 83, of Lexington, SC, passed away on June 16, 2026, after a short illness. Wayne was born in Forest City, NC, and later moved to Morganton, NC, where he spent his early years. Wayne graduated from Morganton High School in 1961. After high school, Wayne enlisted in the US Air Force and served two (2) combat tours in Vietnam. Wayne was a radar technician on an EC-121 Constellation, or “Connie,” as he affectionately called it. Wayne spent his military career guiding fighter bombers to targets and alerting them of enemy aircraft. One of the Connies Wayne flew on is currently on display at the Museum of the US Air Force in Dayton, OH.

After leaving the USAF, Wayne returned to his native North Carolina and enrolled in NC State University. He later obtained a degree in mechanical engineering and soon began a lengthy and fulfilling career with Johnson Controls. Wayne began his career in Wilmington, NC, before transferring to Columbia in the early 1980s. Wayne worked the remainder of his engineering career in Columbia, where he made his permanent home.

Wayne was predeceased by his wife, Peggy Whitaker, and his parents, Roy and Edna Hollifield Whitaker. He is survived by his daughters, Tonya Whitaker, Julie Whitaker, Angie Carter, and a son, Lee Carter. He is also survived by four (4) grandchildren and three (3) great-grandsons. Wayne is also survived by his brothers, Bruce Whitaker (Patricia) and Phil Whitaker (Jennifer).

Funeral services will be held in the chapel of Thompson Funeral Home of Lexington on Saturday, June 27, 2026, at 1:00. There will be a visitation one hour prior to the service. Immediately following the service, Wayne will be laid to rest beside his beloved Peggy at the Mt. Horeb Church cemetery.