Richard “Rickey” Edward Whatley, 82, of Port Lavaca passed to his Heavenly Home on February 25, 2025. He was born on February 10, 1943 in Corpus Christi to Mary Lucille Pratt Whatley and Ruben Warren Whatley.
Rickey graduated from Calhoun High School, Class of 1961 and was then drafted by Texas A&M University on a full-ride, football scholarship. While attending classes, he played for Gene Stallings’ Fighting Aggies as an Offensive & Defensive End and obtained his Pilot’s License. He left the Home of the 12th Man in 1965 with his Bachelor of Science Degree in Agronomy. Combining his passion for flying with his education, Rickey developed a lifelong career in both Aerial Applications (Crop Dusting) & Farming. His very first plane was a Cub which he actually built himself. He owned & operated a very successful business, Whatley Flying Service, for over 50 years and grew everything from rice, cotton, corn & milo. Later in life, he redeveloped a love for golf and enjoyed playing the game with friends as often as possible. But mostly, work was “play” to Rickey and everyone who knew him, knows there wasn’t anything he was not capable of doing or fixing.
We will forever miss this larger than life, “John Wayne” of a man with a mischievous smile & twinkling blue eyes, who was quick with a joke for any occasion and, with loving kindness & generosity, was always ready to help family & friends with anything they needed.
He is survived by his wife & best friend, Glenda Whatley; son, Richard Tyler Whatley (Michelle); daughters, Cheri Walleck (Steven), Carrie Whatley, and Denise Haertl (Russell); sisters, Lynda Frazier, and Dorothy Daniel; brother, Charles Whatley; and numerous grandchildren including grandson.
He was preceded in death by his parents; sister, Francis Shell; and brother, Warren Whatley.
Services will be held on Friday, March 7, 2025 at First United Methodist Church in Port Lavaca with Pastor Diane McCleary officiating. Visitation starts at 1 p.m. with Funeral Service at 2 p.m. Burial in Greenlawn Gardens will follow. Afterward, please join the family for a Celebration of Life at Hatchbend Country Club.
Pallbearers are Rickey’s nephews: Lloyd Frazier, Lorne Frazier, Lynn Frazier, Charles Shell, Mike Shell and Steven Whatley
Memorial donations may be made to St. Jude Children’s Hospital.
Words of comfort and special memories may be shared with the family at www.richardsoncolonial.com.
