Thomas F. Whaley

Thomas Franklin Whaley, Sr. was called home on September 30, 2016. He was 62. Thomas was born August 7, 1954 in Lewes, Delaware to the late James Howard and Annabell Whaley. He was the fifth child of eighteen children. He was educated in George Washington Carver School (Frankford, DE), Lord Baltimore (Ocean View, DE) and Indian River (Frankford, DE). As a youth, he was very athletic, playing basketball, ran track, was a chef at Phillip’s Seaford House in Ocean City, a poultry worker at Townsend for a short period of time, an interior decorator, gardening, auto mechanic, handyman in reconstructing old homes, upholstery, a jack of all trades. He was active in the community, a natural comedian and everybody enjoyed being around him. He always had a smile and something nice to say to uplift your spirit, a very loving kind hearted person who did not like a lot of confusion, but would chose peace first. He studied the word of God often and would share God’s goodness with family and friends. He loved his 58 Chevys, a black one and a blue and white one that he personally refinished and upholstered himself. He loved his family. He was preceded in death by his parents, James and Annabell Whaley; two sisters, Grace Milbourn and Stephanie Stanley; a brother, Bobbie Whaley; one great-grandchild, Azriel Moses Whaley; three nephews, Nicholas Whaley, Todd Whaley and Jaquan Stanley, and one niece, Shannon Whaley. He is survived by his wife, Betty Whaley of Dover, DE; five children, Collena (Chester Hope) of Dover, DE, Bettie Whaley of Harrington, DE, Thomas Whaley, Jr. of Laurel, DE, Naeema Whaley of Bridgeville, DE, and one special step-daughter, Clarissa Custis of Smyrna, DE; thirty-eight grandchildren, ten great-grandchildren; eight brothers, James (Evelyn) of Whaleysville, MD, Carl (Monzie) of Fruitland, MD, Carlton Whaley of Campbelltown, MD, Sheron (Eleanor) Whaley of Rehoboth, DE, Angelo (Ann) Whaley of Georgetown, DE, Howard (Darlene) of Coverdale, DE, and Thornton Whaley of Florida; six sisters, Joanne Williams of Seaford, DE, Patricia (Hemnath) Kasinath of Willards, MD, Heida (Noah) Brown of Millsboro, DE, Felicia Whaley of Coverdale, DE Sheila Whaley of Salisbury, MD and Tina Whaley of Georgetown, DE, and a host of uncles, aunts, nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Thomas F. Whaley, please visit our Heartfelt Sympathies Store.

Thomas F. Whaley

July 7, 1954 - October 9, 2016