Robert Gerald Whistler, 82, passed away on December 13, 2011. He was born November 23, 1929 in Kansas City, Kansas to Gerald Gretto Whistler and Opal Marguerite St. Clair Whistler. He proudly served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War. He had been a member of St. Mark’s Lutheran Church for forty years and recently was a charter member of the Resurrection Lutheran Church. Robert was a graduate of the University of Arizona, Tucson in Wildlife Management. While in college he served as a seasonal naturalist at Sequoia National Park for two years. After his marriage to Mary Whistler he worked in the Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming for two years, Washington D.C. National Capital Parks Region at Rock Creek Park Nature Center for nine years. In 1972 he became the chief naturalist of Padre Island National Seashore and was one of the founders of the release Sea Turtle Project retiring in June, 1989. Preceding him in death were his parents; brother, Richard Whistler and sister-in-law, Sina Mae Whistler.
Survivors include his wife of fifty one years, Mary Whistler, they married on November 5, 1960; son, James Robert Whistler of Corpus Christi, Texas; daughter, Cheryl Anne Whistler of Cosby, Tennessee, his youngest brother, Jon Whistler and wife, Joni of Watsonville, California; niece, Lori and husband, Jim Leahy of San Jose, California; two cousins, Shirley Smith of Shawnee Mission, Kansas, Wesley St. Clair and wife, Marcia of Santa Barbara, California; sister-in-law, Mrs. J.A. Rohwer of Tucson, Arizona; nephew, Derek Whistler and step nephew, Chris Whistler.
Visitation will be from 4:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m., Friday, December 16, 2011 at Cage-Mills Funeral Directors, 4901 Everhart Road. Funeral services will be conducted at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, December 17, 2011 also at Cage-Mills Funeral Directors. Interment will be at East Lawn Palms Cemetery at a later date. In lieu of flowers contributions may be made to the Resurrection Lutheran Church, P.O. Box 270274 Corpus Christi, Texas 78427, Padre Island National Seashore, Ridley Sea Turtle Project to the attention of Donna Schaefer or the Museum of Science and History. To offer your condolences visit us at www.cage-mills.com
COMPARTA UN OBITUARIO
v.1.8.18