Obituary of Max Courtney

Max Erwin Courtney, 86, of Charlotte, died of natural causes Sunday, July 29, 2012, in the Harris Hospice Unit of Presbyterian Hospital, surrounded by his loving family. Born March 12, 1926, he was the son of the late A.C. and Myrtle Thompson Courtney of Charlotte, NC and is survived by his wife of 63 years, Bonnie Chapman Courtney; two sons, Don L. Courtney of Lancaster, SC and Ken E. Courtney and his wife, Charlotte S.; grandson, Keith E. Courtney, all of Loganville, GA; sister, Betty Courtney Brown and husband, James O. Brown of Garden City, SC and sister-in-law, Mary Simpson Courtney of Charlotte. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his beloved brother, T.C. Courtney of Charlotte. Max served his country honorably in World War II in the US Navy's 16th Fleet at the rank of Seaman 1st Class aboard an LCT in support of the Normandy invasion of France. Upon his discharge in June of 1944, he returned to Charlotte to complete his studies at Sharon High School and marry his sweetheart, Bonnie. He worked as a fireman with the Woodlawn Community Fire Department in Charlotte and later with his father, A.C., a life-long general contractor in Charlotte. Using what he learned from working with his father, Max joined Doggett Lumber Company in Dilworth as a sales rep and later worked for H.& S. Lumber Co. in Charlotte. In 1965 he joined the United States Postal Service, working out of the Starmount Branch Office delivering mail to the South Blvd., Archdale, Old Pineville, and Tyvola Rd. area until his retirement in 1990. Max was a life-long and founding member of Woodlawn Baptist Church, a deacon, and Sunday School Superintendent. His father helped build the church and his wife served as its secretary for many years. The family will receive friends on Saturday, August 4, 2012 from 1:00 until 2:30 pm at Hankins & Whittington Funeral Services, 1111 East Blvd., Charlotte, NC 28203. A funeral service will follow at 2:30 pm in the funeral home chapel. Interment with military honors will follow in Sharon Memorial Park. Friends and those wishing to support the family are asked to send flowers and notes of sympathy to Hankins & Whittington.