Rocky Whitely, 91, died after a brief illness on July 29, 2023, at the Arkansas Veterans Home at Fayetteville. He was the first baby born in Lake County, Ohio on January 1, 1932, in Painesville, Ohio, the son of Edward and Margaret Whitely.
Rocky graduated from Harvey High School in Painesville, Ohio, Class of 1951. While a high school student, he was a talented baseball player. The local Church of Christ in Painesville had a baseball team. That sports connection led Rocky to learn about Jesus his Savior and to be immersed into His Name at that time.
Following graduation, Rocky enlisted in the U.S. Air Force and served 22 years, mostly for Strategic Air Command assignments in the United States and abroad, before retiring at the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. Rocky and his crew won the P.T. Cullen Trophy in 1957. He won numerous other awards and decorations, including the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Bronze Star, Meritorious Service Medal, Air Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal.
Additionally, Rocky played softball in theAir Force and after, all the way through softball for seniors.
Rocky was married to Yvonne “Slick” Whitely for 28 years before she passed away in 1982. He later married Margaret Anne Whitely and celebrated 40 years together.
Rockywasalwaysastudent. He earned “Bachelor of Laws” and “Juris Doctor” degrees from the Blackstone School of Law. Later, he earned a “Bachelor of Science in Education” degree, emphasis in Political Science, and a “Master of Arts” degree from Southwest Texas State University.
Rocky completed his student teaching at Comal and Lockhart High Schools and later taught government classes at SouthwestTexas. In 1983, the student body of Southwest Texas awarded Rocky with the “Educator of the Year”.
Rocky was a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Chapter 3413 in San Marcos, Texas and the American Legion Post 9 in Eureka Springs, Arkansas.
Rocky’s later career included, softball league player and manager, real estate agent and broker, restaurant owner, author of the book, “Crazy Charlies’ Crew”, guest newspaper columnist for “The Star Progress” in Carroll County and “Rocky’s Road” in the “Eureka Springs Times-Echo”, Justice of the Peace, Constable, philanthropist, thrift store owner, and pastor. He was one of the busiest retired people ever.
In Eureka Springs and Berryville, everyone knew Rocky. Everywhere he went was “Whitelyville”, always greeting people by name, making people feel good and saying, “Honey, you’re so beautiful” or, “Praise the Lord!” Rocky and Anne were co-pastors of Wildflowers Christian Chapel. They helped everyone, no matter what their need was. They were also instrumental in starting in Berryville the “Martha Mary House For Women & Children”, a shelter for abused women and children.
In addition to his parents, Rocky was preceded in death by his first wife, Yvonne Whitely; by his daughter, Patricia Whitely; by his brothers, John Whitely and Richard Whitely; and by his sisters, Mary Ellen Anderson and Margaret Douglass.
Rocky Whitely is survived by his wife, Margaret Anne Whitely, and by his children, Rocky Whitely, Jr., and wife, Sally, Michael Whitely, Valerie Jashinsky, and Kelleigh Broyles-Reiner, and husband, Wayne.
He is survived by his grandchildren, Rocky Whitely III and wife, Lindsey, Jonathan Whitely and wife, Kelsey, Chad Whitely and wife, Hsunchin, Ryan Inselmann and wife, Hope, Michael Whitely, Jr. and wife, Rachel, Brent Jashinsky and wife, Lina, Chris Jashinsky and wife, Brenda, Leigh McGough and husband, Sean, Gary Jashinsky and wife, Cecilia, Ava Broyles-Reiner, and Nora Broyles-Reiner.
He is survived by 23 great-grandchildren, and by many nieces and nephews.
A memorial service celebrating the life of Rocky Whitely will be held at 10 a.m. on Saturday, August 19, 2023, at Wildflowers Christian Chapel, 6789 Highway 62 West, Eureka Springs, Arkansas. Arrangements were taken care of by Westfield Chapel Funeral Home and Cremation Services, 3236 West Huntsville Avenue, Springdale, AR 72762. Interment of his ashes at the Wimberley Cemetery in Texas will be scheduled at a later date.
Those wishing to remember Rocky in a special way may make gifts in his memory to the Arkansas Veterans Home at Fayetteville, 1179 North College Avenue, Fayetteville, AR 72703.