He served in the Texas Air National Guard as a staff sergeant in the air police. In 1973, he joined with Fred Trachier to open WT Grinding and Supply in Arlington, where he continued to work until retiring to spend time with family and friends. He enjoyed golf woodworking and gardening .
He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Jonell Adair-Whaley; son, Jay Alton Whaley and daughter-in-law, Diann Coleman-Whaley of Arlington, and daughter, Susan Elaine Whaley and partner Jim Nardozza of Madeira Beach, Florida. Also grandsons, Michael Jay Whaley and wife Ashlie Greenlee-Whaley, and David Andrew Whaley, and great grandsons, Callan Michael Whaley and Andrew Stephen Whaley, all of Arlington. He was preceded in death by his parents, Robert Lemuel Whaley and Oneta Florence Crawford-Whaley, brother, Charles Wayne Whaley and grandson, Stephen Joe Whaley.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Alzheimer’s Foundation, alzfdn.org