William Millard Whitlow Jr., 74, of Lexington, Virginia, died on Sunday, May 19, 2013, at Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital.

He was born in Bluefield, W.Va., moved to Roanoke, graduated from Jefferson High School and Virginia Tech, where he was in the Corps of Cadets.

He served in the United States Army for two years and then the National Guard.

He worked at Daystom in South Boston, Va., for several years as a manufacturing engineer. He then moved to Buena Vista, Va., where he worked at Modine Manufacturing Company for 30 years as Manager of Engineering.

After retiring, he raised cattle for several years and then became an independent contractor. He had driven a race car at Natural Bridge and had his pilot's license. He loved fishing, playing golf and playing his upright bass at the senior center in Buena Vista. He was a long time member of St. John's Methodist Church.

He was preceded in death by his mother and father, Louise and William M. Whitlow Sr.; one brother, Robert Whitlow; and an infant daughter, Julie Whitlow.

He is survived by his wife of 50 years, Dorothy Whitlow; one son, Christopher Whitlow and wife, Ahthena, of California; one daughter, Melissa Smith and husband, Chad, of Roanoke; two granddaughters, Brittany Whitlow, of Lexington, and Jordan Wagemann, of Roanoke; one great-grandson, Zachery William Bryant, of Lexington; one brother, James B. Whitlow and wife, Sandy, and a niece and nephew, all of Vinton; and one sister-in-law, Norma Whitlow, of Vinton.

A memorial service will be held at St. John's United Methodist Church at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, May 22, 2013 with the Rev. John Choi officiating. The family will receive friends two hours prior to the service at the church.

Arrangements by Bolling, Grose & Lotts Funeral Home and Cremation Service, Buena Vista, Va., 540-261-5510.