CARROLLTON—Otis J. (Whitey) Lankford Jr. of Carrollton, passed away peacefully on Sept. 16, 2018. Otis is preceded in death by his parents, Otis J. Lankford and Mary V. Lankford. 

He is survived by his loving wife of 38 years, Carole A. Lankford; sister, Mary V. Gilmer; children, Otis J. (Jeff) Lankford III (Renee), Yvonne L. Bradshaw (James), Lisa M. Speight (John), Craig A. Dimeler (Lilia), Glenda R. Dimeler and  Patra F. Brady; grandchildren, Dylon R. Lankford, James Cody Bradshaw (Meredith), Megan B. Jones (J.R.), Brett H. Bradshaw, Amber D. White (Sylvain Girard), Karissa W. Crowder (Chance), Michelle D. Holley (Jay), Heather D. Daniel (Nate), Leilani D. Pitts (Donnie), Sara A. Dimeler and Ryan P. Brady; six great grandchildren as well as several nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Otis was born in Isle of Wight County on Sept. 8, 1938. He graduated from Smithfield High School in 1956. For a short time he served in the U.S. Army, Artillery Division. He retired after 39 years as a general foreman from Newport News Shipbuilding Dry Dock Company. Some of his favorite interests were reading, gardening, exercising and fishing. He was also a member of Whiteheads Grove Baptist Church.

A private celebration of life will be held at a later date. The family is being served by R.W. Baker & Co. Funeral Home and Crematory. Condolences may be offered at RWBakerFH.com.