Billy Robert Whatley

Billy Robert Whatley went to be with his Lord and Savior on July 6, 2024. Born January 4, 1946, to Jesse and Helen Whatley of Jena, Louisiana, Robert was a twenty-year resident of DeFuniak Springs. Shortly after his 1965 high school graduation in Verdun, France, he joined the Air Force and gave 22 years in service to his country. After retirement from active duty, Robert went to work at Eglin AFB in civil service for another 22 years. During this time, he volunteered on a search and rescue team after disasters like plane crashes. 

Robert loved serving, and it was a major part of his life. He volunteered a couple of nights per week on the suicide prevention crisis line, he taught children’s Sunday School class at his church, he coached children’s t-ball and baseball teams, and he worked the food pantry at both Southwide Baptist Church and First Baptist Church DeFuniak. For about two years, Robert and his wife cooked and packed meals for delivery to home bound residents in and around DeFuniak. Another way Robert served was as a member of Florida Baptist Disaster Relief team which provided opportunities to serve in fire ravaged areas in Colorado and clean up from hurricane damage in New Orleans and several cities in Florida. He loved the Lord and was an active member of First Baptist Church DeFuniak Springs. 

One of his passions was time spent with family, and one of his greatest joys was teaching his sons and grandson to hunt deer and to fish. 

Robert’s generous heart overflowed into lives all around him, and he was always willing to help people in any ways he could. It was very common for people to come to his workshop to borrow tools for their various projects. Robert usually had what they needed and not only loaned them to tools they needed, but he often went to help with the project they were working on. 

Robert is survived by his wife Doretha Whatley, two sons Brent Whatley and Royce Whatley and wife Elizabeth, grandson Alan Whatley, sister-in-law Sandra Fletcher, sister Ann Strasky and husband Carl, two nephews, Ben and Carl John Strasky, and brother-in-law Rinny Fletcher and wife Sandy. He was preceded in death by his parents, grandparents, and two nieces. 

 Graveside burial will be at Glendale Memorial Nature Preserve at 10:00am on July 9, 2024.