Richard William Whelpley

1932 - 2012  (80 years)

• Name	Richard William Whelpley
  	Auto Mechanic
  Nickname	Dick
  Birth	20 Jan 1932	Boston, Suffolk County, Massachusetts, U.S.A.   [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6]
  Census	1940 (7 years)	Boston, Suffolk County, Massachusetts, U.S.A.   [7]
  In the 1940 US Census he was recorded, aged 8, while living with his parents at 37 Jay Street, Boston, Massachusetts.
  Census	c1950 (18 years)	Boston, Suffolk County, Massachusetts, U.S.A.   [8]
  In the 1950 US Census, he was recorded, age 20, living at 69 Phillips Street, Boston, Massachusetts. He worked in a garage as an auto mechanic.
  Residence	About 1950 (17 years)	Boston, Suffolk County, Massachusetts, U.S.A.   [9]
  He was living in Boston, Massachusetts.
  Moved To	1956 (23 years)	Athol, Worcester County, Massachusetts, U.S.A.   [5]
  In 1956, Richard and Andrea moved to Athol, Massachusetts.
  Residence	1960 (27 years)	Athol, Worcester County, Massachusetts, U.S.A.   [10]
  Richard and Andrea were listed as living at 216 Prospect, Athol, Massachusetts. Richard is listed as a mechanic.
  Residence	Mar 1964 (32 years)	Athol, Worcester County, Massachusetts, U.S.A.   [11]
  He lived in Athol, Massachusetts at the time of his father, Edward Whelpley's death.
  Residence	Sep 1987 (55 years)	Athol, Worcester County, Massachusetts, U.S.A.   [9]
  He lived in Athol, Massachusetts at the time of his wife, Andrea's death.
  Death	21 Aug 2012	Gardner, Worcester County, Massachusetts, U.S.A.   [1, 4, 5]
  He died at the Legend Center in Gardner, Massachusetts. [5]
  Obituary	23 Aug 2012 (80 years)  [5]
  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, 23 August 2012
  Burial	25 Aug 2012	Silver Lake Cemetery, Athol, Worcester County, Massachusetts, U.S.A. Silver Lake Cemetery, Athol, Massachusetts,   [4, 5]
  Siblings	4 brothers and 2 sisters
  1. Louise Evelyn Whelpley,   b. 4 Jul 1917, Northfield, Washington County, Vermont, U.S.A. d. 9 Sep 2006  (Age 89 years) > 2. Howard Orton Whelpley,   b. 13 Jun 1919, Northfield, Washington County, Vermont, U.S.A. d. 21 Mar 2006, Athol, Worcester County, Massachusetts, U.S.A.  (Age 86 years) ▻ Ruth Adeline Welch,  m. 1941 > 3. Herman Edward Whelpley,   b. 20 Jul 1921, Washington, Orange County, Vermont, U.S.A. d. 20 Nov 1998, Athens, Henderson County, Texas, U.S.A.  (Age 77 years) ▻ Grace Agnes Barry,  m. 8 Mar 1944 > 4. Lee Alfred Whelpley,   b. 24 Jan 1923, Boston, Suffolk County, Massachusetts, U.S.A. d. 13 Aug 1999, Duarte, Los Angeles County, California, U.S.A.  (Age 76 years) ▻ Evelyn Patton > 5. Elaine Whelpley,   b. 4 Mar 1926, Boston, Suffolk County, Massachusetts, U.S.A. d. 27 Aug 2016, Brockton, Plymouth County, Massachusetts, U.S.A.  (Age 90 years) ▻ Julian James Kolinski,  m. 1949 > 6. Rance Joseph Whelpley,   b. 29 Dec 1929, Massachusetts, U.S.A. d. 29 May 2007, Webster, Harris County, Texas, U.S.A.  (Age 77 years) ▻ Geraldine Ann Mroz,  m. 11 Dec 1955 + 7. Richard William Whelpley,   b. 20 Jan 1932, Boston, Suffolk County, Massachusetts, U.S.A. d. 21 Aug 2012, Gardner, Worcester County, Massachusetts, U.S.A.  (Age 80 years)
  Patriarch & Matriarch	Edward Wakeley,   b. 1510, Lenham, Kent, England d. —, Lenham, Kent, England   (11 x Great Grandfather)  Mary Holt,   b. Berlin, Washington County, Vermont, U.S.A.   (2 x Great Grandmother)
  Person ID, Branch	I1051	Whelpley Line
  Last Modified	19 Feb 2026

  
  

  Father	Edward Horace Whelpley,   b. 1 Sep 1895, Montpelier, Washington County, Vermont, U.S.A. d. 7 Mar 1964, Brighton, Boston, Suffolk, Massachusetts, U.S.A. A neighborhood in Boston (Age 68 years)
  Mother	Grace Evelen Seymour,   b. 1 Nov 1893, Berlin, Washington County, Vermont, U.S.A. d. 18 Mar 1990, Boston, Suffolk County, Massachusetts, U.S.A. (Age 96 years)
  Family ID	F971	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Spouse / Partner 1	Andrea Grace Travis,   b. 20 Apr 1929, Newark, Essex County, New Jersey, U.S.A. d. 14 Sep 1987, Greenfield, Franklin County, Massachusetts, U.S.A. (Age 58 years)
  Marriage	13 Aug 1949	Boston, Suffolk County, Massachusetts, U.S.A.   [3, 5, 12]
  Age at Marriage	He : 17 years and 7 months - She : 20 years and 4 months.
  Children	3 sons and 1 daughter
  >   1. Elizabeth Anne Whelpley >   2. Thomas E. Whelpley     3. Christopher Whelpley +   4. David Richard Whelpley
  Family ID	F965	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
  Last Modified	7 Jun 2021

  
  

  Spouse / Partner 2	Virginia Mallet
  Family ID	F970	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
  Last Modified	19 Feb 2026

  
  

• Pedigree

  ← Click to display 1Richard William Whelpley(1932 – 2012) 2Edward Horace Whelpley(1895 – 1964) 4Horace William Whelpley(1870 – 1896) 8Captain David C. Whelpley(1833 – 1883) 16William Whelpley(1805 – 1873) 17Hannah Malone(Abt 1816 – ) 9Harriet Jane Pangbourne(1834 – 1892) 18Captain Richard Panghorn 19Amy Baker(1798 – 1837) 5Esther Agnes Matthews(1874 – 1964) 10Joseph Matthews(Abt 1851 – ) 20James Matthew(Abt 1813 – ) 21Amelia(Abt 1823 – ) 11Eliza Pareau or Pratt(Abt 1852 – 1888) 22Joseph Pareau 23Esther Salvis 3Grace Evelen Seymour(1893 – 1990) 6Francis Xavier Seymour(1869 – 1933) 12Charles Seymour(1844 – 1913) 24Isaac Seymour 25Rachel 13Mary Rose(1844 – ) 26Eleazer Rose 27Leonara 7Ellen M. Hill(1870 – 1951) 14Marlin Ebenezer Hill(1831 – 1909) 28Ebenezer Hill, Jr.(1801 – 1874) 29Ruth Wheeler(1812 – 1891) 15Evaline Melvina LeCroix(1838 – 1922) 30Joseph Le Clair 31Mary Holt

  
  

• Event Map		Birth - 20 Jan 1932 - Boston, Suffolk County, Massachusetts, U.S.A. Census - 1940 - Boston, Suffolk County, Massachusetts, U.S.A. Marriage - 13 Aug 1949 - Boston, Suffolk County, Massachusetts, U.S.A. Census - c1950 - Boston, Suffolk County, Massachusetts, U.S.A. Residence - About 1950 - Boston, Suffolk County, Massachusetts, U.S.A. Moved To - 1956 - Athol, Worcester County, Massachusetts, U.S.A. Residence - 1960 - Athol, Worcester County, Massachusetts, U.S.A. Residence - Mar 1964 - Athol, Worcester County, Massachusetts, U.S.A. Residence - Sep 1987 - Athol, Worcester County, Massachusetts, U.S.A. Death - 21 Aug 2012 - Gardner, Worcester County, Massachusetts, U.S.A. Burial - 25 Aug 2012 - Silver Lake Cemetery, Athol, Worcester County, Massachusetts, U.S.A.  = Link to Google Earth
  Pin Legend	: Address       : Location       : City/Town       : County/Shire       : State/Province       : Country       : Not Set

  
  

• Photos

  Richard W. Whelpley

  
  

• Sources 🟢 Primary Evidence 🟡 Secondary Evidence 🟠 Tertiary Evidence 🔴 Unreliable Evidence

  [S10] Social Security Administration, Social Security Death Index (SSDI), (Provo, Utah: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2011). [S22] Massachusetts Department of Public Health, Massachusetts, Birth Index, 1860-1970, (Provo, Utah: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2013). [S98] MacIntyre, J. Duncan. Descendants of Esther Matthews, (Indian Harbour Beach, Florida: manuscript, 11 February 1994). [S14] Ancestry.com, Find a Grave® Index, 1600s-Current® http://findagrave.com, (Lehi, Utah: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc.), Memorial ID 96097343 Richard W. Whelpley. [S99] Obituary of Richard W. Whelpley, (Athol, Massachusetts, Athol Daily News 23 August 2012). [S29] Ancestry.com, U.S. Public Records Index, 1950-1993, (Provo, Utah: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010). [S21] Bureau of the Census, 1940 U.S. Federal Census, (Provo, Utah: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2012), Year: 1940; Census Place: Boston, Suffolk, Massachusetts; Roll: T627_1661; Page: 2B; Enumeration District: 15-139. [S2303] Bureau of the Census, 1950 U.S. Federal Census, (Provo, Utah: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 20212), Source Citation National Archives at Washington, DC; Washington, D.C.; Seventeenth Census of the United States, 1950; Year: 1950; Census Place: Boston, Suffolk, Massachusetts; Roll: 3489; Page: 10; Enumeration District: 15-341. [S100] Athol Daily News, Obituary of Andrea G. Whelpley, (Athol, Massachusetts: Athol Daily News Tuesday, 15 September 1987). [S23] Ancestry.com, U.S. City Directories, 1822-1989, (Provo, Utah: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2011), Athol, Massachusetts, City Directory, 1960. [S2176] Obituary of Edward H. Whelpley, (Boston: Boston Globe, 8 March 1964, Page 67). [S247] New England Historic Genealogical Society, Massachusetts, Marriage Index, 1901-1955 and 1966-1970, (Provo, Utah: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2013).