10/23/2014
Name: Robert Eugene Whaley
Birth: 6 Jun 1926
Death: 23 Oct 2014 – Nashville, Tennessee
Spouse: Anne Richardson 1966 – Tennessee
Father: John L Whaley
Mother: Fern Dixon
Robert “Bob” Eugene Whaley passed away on October 23, 2014. Bob grew up on a farm in Iowa before moving to Nashville in 1952. He held several positions, one of which was at the Baptist Sunday School Board. Bob joined First Baptist Church in 1954 where he taught second graders and mentored older youth in discipleship training. He also taught at TPS.
On January 29, 1966, Bob married Ann Richardson “Richie” Harris, a coworker at the Baptist Sunday School Board. Their marriage meant that one of them had to resign from the Baptist Sunday School Board. Bob chose to resign and began attending Belmont College, now Belmont University, and graduated after three years in 1966. Upon graduation, Bob began a career with the State of Tennessee as a community planner.
Although the Whaleys didn’t have children of their own they had many “chosen loved ones” over the years. They are Chey (Nathanael) Gethers, Susan Lynn (Byron) Jorjorian, Katelyn Elizabeth Jorjorian, Ryan Lee Jorjorian, Byron Taylor (Tracey) Jorjorian, Patrick Lee Jorjorian, Julie Anne (Jeff Markay) Yarborough, Matthew Yarborough Markay, Elizabeth Yarborough Markay, James Forbes (Sheila Cain) Yarborough, Piper Delaney Yarborough, Liam Davis Yarborough, Joan Nowell (John Laney) Yarborough and Fariborz Rakhshan.
Bob is preceded in death by his wife of 44 years, Ann Richardson Harris “Richie” Whaley; his parents, John L. and Fern Dixon Whaley, and his siblings, Warren C. Whaley, Jack D. Whaley, Betty E. Clark, and Martha Hyde. He is survived by his sister Frances H. Smith and other family and close friends.
Dr. Frank Lewis will conduct a Celebration of Life Service at 11:30 a.m. on Saturday, November 8, 2014, at First Baptist Church. There will be a time of visitation with Bob’s loved ones from 10:00 a.m. until the time of service. Memorial contributions may be made to the Senior Adult Ministry, First Baptist Church Nashville, 108 7th Avenue South, Nashville, TN 37203.