More detail on this person: Dr. Richard E.
Whaley, Colonel, USAF, Ret., passed away at his
home on Tuesday, May 3. He was born in Bicknell
on July 30, 1940 to Ralph and Virginia (Fleming)
Whaley.
Dr. Whaley was preceded in death by his
parents.
Surviving is his wife of 55 years, Alice (Tewalt)
Whaley; daughter Julie Lawrence and her husband,
Mike, of Newburgh; son James Whaley and his
wife, Heather, of Vincennes; and daughter Amanda
Green and her husband, Benjy, of Prosper, TX. He
is also survived by his grandchildren, Drew
Lawrence and wife Christina; Brett Lawrence and
wife Allie; Nick Lawrence, Ben Green, Zach Green,
Kate Parsons and Emma Whaley. His sisters and
their husbands, Charlene and David Lory, and
Marge and Don Bilskie also survive.
Dr. Whaley graduated from Lincoln High School,
Vincennes University, Indiana University
Bloomington and the Indiana University School of
Dentistry. He practiced dentistry in Vincennes for
35 years, and served as consulting dentist for the
Vincennes Schools for more than twenty years.
Following his retirement, he served as an
instructor in the Dental Hygiene Clinic at USI.
He was a member and past president of the Knox
County Dental Society, and a member of the
Indiana and American Dental Associations.
Parallel to his dental career, Dr. Whaley served
thirty years with the Indiana Air National Guard
and is a graduate of the Air War College. Prior to
entering dental school, Dr. Whaley served seven
years of active duty with the U.S. Army as a
fixed-wing and helicopter pilot. He was assigned
to the 1 st Air Cavalry Div. in Vietnam, 1966-67.
Among the citations received for his service in
Vietnam were the Bronze Star, and the Air Medal
with 26 clusters. He retired from the Indiana Air
National Guard on July 30, 2000, with the rank of
Colonel, and was awarded the Legion of Merit.
Dr. Whaley was a member of First United Methodist
Church, Masonic Lodge #1, and The Hadi Shrine.
He was active in Boy Scout Troop #273 for more
than 25 years. He was a member, and past
president, of the Board of Directors of Wabash
Valley Human Services. He served on the Head
Start Central Policy Council.
Dr. Whaley was currently serving on the merit
board of the Knox County Sheriff's Dept. He was
also affiliated with the American Legion, VFW, 40
et 8, Moose, Eagles and B.P.O.E. # 291.
In his free time, Dr. Whaley loved hunting,
fishing, and spending time with his family.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations
to The Salvation Army in Dr. Whaley's memory.
Visitation with the family will be held from 4 to
8 p.m., Monday, May 9, at Goodwin Funeral Home,
524 Broadway, Vincennes, IN. Services will be
conducted at 1:00 p.m. Tuesday, May 10 at the
funeral home. Burial, with full military honors
by the Indiana Army and Air National Guard
Ceremonial Unit, will follow at Memorial Park
Cemetery.
Online condolences made be made at
www.goodwinfamilyfh.com
Burial information: Memorial Park Cemetery, Vincennes, IN
This information was last updated 01/13/2017
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Date posted on this site: 10/13/2025
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