Richard William "Dick" Whelpley

1932 - 2012  (80 years)

• Name	Richard William Whelpley
  Born	20 Jan 1932	Boston, Suffolk County, Massachusetts   [2, 3, 4, 8, 9, 11]
  Census	1940	Boston, Suffolk County, Massachusetts   [1]
  In the 1940 US Census he was recorded, aged 8, while living with his parents at 37 Jay Street, Boston, Massachusetts.
  Residence	About 1950	Boston, Suffolk County, Massachusetts   [6]
  He was living in Boston, Massachusetts.
  Moved To	1956	Athol, Worcester County, Massachusetts   [8]
  In 1956, Richard and Andrea moved to Athol, Massachusetts.
  Residence	1960	Athol, Worcester County, Massachusetts   [10]
  Richard and Andrea were listed as living at 216 Prospect, Athol, Massachusetts. Richard is listed as a mechanic.
  Residence	Mar 1964	Athol, Worcester County, Massachusetts   [7]
  He lived in Athol, Massachusetts at the time of his father, Edward Whelpley's death.
  Residence	Sep 1987	Athol, Worcester County, Massachusetts   [6]
  He lived in Athol, Massachusetts at the time of his wife, Andrea's death.
  Died	21 Aug 2012	Gardner, Worcester County, Massachusetts   [2, 8, 9]
  He died at the Legend Center in Gardner, Massachusetts. [8]
  Obituary	23 Aug 2012  [8]
  ATHOL -- Richard W. Whelpley, 80, died Tuesday, Aug. 21, 2012, at the Legend Center in Gardner. Dick was born in Boston, Jan. 20, 1932, the son of Edward H. and Evelyn (Seymore) Whelpley. Dick and his first wife Andrea (Travis) Whelpley were married on Aug. 13, 1949, and she predeceased him in 1987. He and Andrea moved to Athol in 1956, where they raised their four children. Dick was a self-employed businessman all of his working life and learned the trade of automobile mechanics from his father and his brother Howard. He was well known in this area and well respected for his knowledge of foreign cars and his fairness to his customers, many of whom did business with him for many years and became some of his closest friends. He owned and operated Silver Lake Esso, School Street Foreign Motors, Dick Whelpley's Arco Station and most recently Import Motors of Orange until his retirement in 2009 due to health issues. Dick met and married Virginia (Mallet) (Gabrenas) in 1989 and eagerly and proudly assumed the role of stepdad and "Grandpa" to her four children and grandchildren. He was happiest in their presence and in the company of his many pets over the last 23 years. Richard served proudly in a number of community positions for the town of Athol, including on the Conservation Commission, the Planning Board, the EDIC and the Board of Selectmen, where he was chairman for two years. He participated in these roles with the same commitment and fairness that was a hallmark of his life. Richard enjoyed bowling on a league for many years at the Gardner Ten Pins. He leaves his wife Virginia; his children, Elizabeth Ringus and her husband Paul, David Whelpley and his wife Priscilla, Thomas Whelpley and his wife Kathy, and Christopher Whelpley; his sister, Elaine Kolinsky; his stepchildren, Mark Gabrenas and his wife Jennifer, Kevin Gabrenas and his wife Deb, Shelly Labrie and her husband Paul, and Meredith Burt and her husband Ben; his grandchildren, Jeremy, Justin, Jonathan, Travis and Eric Whelpley, Stephanie Welsh, Erin Burke and Adrian Ringus. He also leaves his step-grandchildren, Sarah, Mark, Joshua, Kristin and her mother Sue, and Zachary Gabrenas and his mother Jen, Tessa Burt, Darius Burt and Ayden Labrie; five great-grandchildren; his brother-in-law, Tom Travis, and his God son, David Flint, and many nieces and nephews and wonderful friends whom he cherished. He was predeceased by his first wife Andrea; three brothers, Rance, Herman and Howard, and his sister Louise, and a step-grandson, Winter Clark. A Funeral Mass will be held Saturday, Aug. 25, at 10 a.m., at St. John's Church, 15 Park Ave., Athol, with the Rev. Fr. William Hobbs, rector, officiating. Calling hours will be held Friday, Aug. 24, at Higgins-O'Connor Funeral Home, 146 Main St., Athol, from 6 to 8 p.m. Private burial will be at Silver Lake Cemetery at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations are suggested in Richard's memory to the Athol Conservation Commission, 584 Main St., Suite 7, Athol, Mass. 01331, or the Athol Animal Shelter, for the care of animals, c/o the Athol Police Department, 280 Exchange St., Athol, Mass. 01331. Published by the Athol Daily News, 23 August 2012
  Buried	25 Aug 2012	Silver Lake Cemetery, Athol, Worcester County, Massachusetts, U.S.A.   [2, 8]
  Siblings	6 Siblings
  1. Louise Whelpley,   b. Abt 1917, Vermont   2. Howard O. Whelpley,   b. Abt 1920, Vermont   3. Herman Paul Whelpley,   b. 20 Jul 1921, Washington, Orange County, Vermont ,   d. 20 Nov 1998, Mabank, Kaufman County, Texas,  (Age 77 years)   4. Lee A. Whelpley   5. Elaine Whelpley ▻ James Kolinski   6. Rowell or Rance J. Whelpley + 7. Richard William "Dick" Whelpley,   b. 20 Jan 1932, Boston, Suffolk County, Massachusetts ,   d. 21 Aug 2012, Gardner, Worcester County, Massachusetts  (Age 80 years)
  Person ID	I1051	| Whelpley Line
  Last Modified	14 Aug 2021

  
  

  Father	Edward Horace "Ed" Whelpley,   b. 1 Sep 1895, Montpelier, Washington County, Vermont ,   d. 7 Mar 1964, Brighton, Boston, Suffolk, Massachusetts  (Age 68 years)
  Mother	Grace Evelen Seymour,   b. 1 Nov 1893, Berlin, Washington County, Vermont ,   d. 18 Mar 1990, Boston, Suffolk County, Massachusetts  (Age 96 years)
  Married	2 Feb 1916	Northfield, Washington County, Vermont
  Family ID	F971	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family 1	Andrea Grace Travis,   b. 20 Apr 1929, Newark, Essex County, New Jersey ,   d. 14 Sep 1987, Greenfield, Franklin County, Massachusetts  (Age 58 years)
  Married	13 Aug 1949	Boston, Suffolk County, Massachusetts   [3, 5, 8]
  Age at Marriage	He was 17 years - She was 20 years
  Children	4 children
  1. Elizabeth A. Whelpley   2. Thomas Whelpley   3. Christopher Whelpley + 4. David Richard Whelpley
  Last Modified	7 Jun 2021
  Family ID	F965	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family 2	Virginia Mallet
  Last Modified	16 Nov 2015
  Family ID	F970	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

• Event Map		Born - 20 Jan 1932 - Boston, Suffolk County, Massachusetts Census - 1940 - Boston, Suffolk County, Massachusetts Married - 13 Aug 1949 - Boston, Suffolk County, Massachusetts Residence - About 1950 - Boston, Suffolk County, Massachusetts Moved To - 1956 - Athol, Worcester County, Massachusetts Residence - 1960 - Athol, Worcester County, Massachusetts Residence - Mar 1964 - Athol, Worcester County, Massachusetts Residence - Sep 1987 - Athol, Worcester County, Massachusetts Died - 21 Aug 2012 - Gardner, Worcester County, Massachusetts Buried - 25 Aug 2012 - Silver Lake Cemetery, Athol, Worcester County, Massachusetts, U.S.A.  = Link to Google Earth
  Pin Legend	: Address       : Location       : City/Town       : County/Shire       : State/Province       : Country       : Not Set

  
  

• Photos

  Richard W. Whelpley

  
  

• Sources

  [S21] 1940 U.S. Federal Census, (Provo, Utah: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2012), Year: 1940; Census Place: Boston, Suffolk, Massachusetts; Roll: T627_1661; Page: 2B; Enumeration District: 15-139. [S14] Find-a-Grave website, (http://www.findagrave.com), Memorial ID 96097343 Richard W. Whelpley. [S98] MacIntyre, J. Duncan. Descendants of Esther Matthews, (Indian Harbour Beach, Florida: manuscript, 11 February 1994). [S22] Massachusetts, Birth Index, 1860-1970, (Provo, Utah: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2013). [S247] Massachusetts, Marriage Index, 1901-1955 and 1966-1970, (Provo, Utah: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2013). [S100] Obituary of Andrea G. Whelpley, (Athol, Massachusetts: Athol Daily News Tuesday, 15 September 1987). [S2176] Obituary of Edward H. Whelpley, (Boston: Boston Globe, 8 March 1964, Page 67). [S99] Obituary of Richard W. Whelpley, (Athol, Massachusetts, Athol Daily News 23 August 2012). [S10] Social Security Administration, Social Security Death Index (SSDI), (Provo, Utah: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2011). [S23] U.S. City Directories, 1822-1989, (Provo, Utah: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2011), Athol, Massachusetts, City Directory, 1960. [S29] U.S. Public Records Index, 1950-1993, (Provo, Utah: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010).