Richard William Whelpley
M, (20 January 1932 - 21 August 2012)
| Father-Biological* | Edward Horace Whelpley b. 1 Sep 1895, d. 7 Mar 1964 |
| Mother-Biological* | Grace Evelen Seymour b. 1 Nov 1893, d. 18 Mar 1990 |
- Family Lines
- Whelpley Line
Last Edited=20 Feb 2026
Richard W. Whelpley
Richard William Whelpley, age 17, married Andrea Grace Travis, age 20 , daughter of Andrew Alphonse Travis and Mary Josephine Burke, on 13 August 1949 at Boston, Massachusetts.2,8,4 Richard, age 17 years, and Andrea, age 20 years, appeared on the US Census of 1950 on 69 Phillips Street, Boston, Suffolk County, Massachusetts.9 Richard was an auto mechanic in 1950.9 Richard and Andreamoved to Athol, Massachusetts, in 1956.4 He and Andrea lived in 1960 at Athol, Massachusetts, according to the 1960 Athol, Massachusetts, City Directory. Richard is listed as a mechanic.10 In March 1964 Richard and Andrea lived at Athol, Massachusetts, at the time of Richard's father, Edward Whelpley's death.11 In September 1987 Richard lived at Athol, Massachusetts, at the time of his wife, Andrea's death.12 In September 1987 Richard lived at Athol, Massachusetts, He lived in Athol, Massachusetts at the time of his father, Edward Whelpley's death in September 1987.11 He died on 21 August 2012 at the Legend Center, Gardner, Massachusetts, at age 80.1,5,4 Richard's obituary of 23 August 2012, reads:
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.4
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.4
Richard was buried on 25 August 2012 at Silver Lake Cemetery, Athol, Massachusetts.1,4
Full review completed: 1 June 2021.
Citations
- Find-a-Grave. Online https://www.findagrave.com/
- MacIntyre, J. Duncan. Descendants of Esther Matthews. Indian Harbour Beach, Florida: manuscript, 11 February 1994.
- Department of Public Health, Registry of Vital Records and Statistics. Massachusetts, U.S., Birth Index, 1860-1970. Provo, Utah: Ancestry.com Operations, 2013.
- The Athol Daily News, "Richard W. Whelpley, 80" Athol, Massachusetts, 23 August 2012.
- Social Security Administration. Social Security Death Index (SSDI). Provo, Utah: Ancestry.com Operations, 2011.
- Ancestry.com. U.S., Public Records Index, 1950-1993, Volume 1. Lehi, Utah: Ancestry.com Operations, 2010.
- Census Bureau. 1940 U.S. Federal Census. Provo, Utah: Ancestry.com Operations, 2012.
- Ancestry.com. Massachusetts, U.S., Marriage Index, 1901-1955 and 1966-1970. Provo, Utah: Ancestry.com Operations, 2013.
- Census Bureau. 1950 U.S. Federal Census. Lehi, Utah: Ancestry.com Operations, 2022.
- Ancestry.com. U.S. City Directories, 1822-1989. Provo, Utah: Ancestry.com Operations, 2011.
- Boston Globe, "WHELPLEY In Brighton" Boston, 8 March 1964.
- Athol Daily News, "Andrea Whelpley Was personnel director; at 58" Athol, Massachusetts, 15 September 1987.