Lt. Col. (Ret.) James C. Whatley Jr., 81, of Shalimar, Fla., passed away peacefully on Nov. 23, 2014. Jim was born in Tuscaloosa, Ala., on March 31, 1933. He attended the Columbia Military Academy and graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy (1954). Jim received his Master's Degree from Texas Tech. He served in the U.S. Air Force for 20 years including service in the Vietnam War. He then followed with 29 distinguished years in the defense industry including President and COO of ASI Systems International. He was actively involved in the community such as serving as deacon and elder of Shalimar Presbyterian, Fort Walton Beach Chamber of Commerce, Honor Guard in Billy Bowlegs, and member of Emerald Coast Military Affairs. He is survived by his wife of 58 years, Elma (Peach); his children, Karen Dills, Susie Crawford (Ron), Jim Whatley (Donna) and Sandy Cole (Jeff); seven grandchildren, Billy, Joey, Scott, Mark, Charley, Sarah and Jennifer; and two great-grandchildren. His family and the community will remember him as a person of honor and integrity. A Visitation will be held at Emerald Coast Funeral Home, 113 Racetrack Road, N.E., Fort Walton Beach, FL 32547 from 3 to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 29, 2014. A Service will follow at 4 p.m. A private burial in Barrancas National Cemetery will take place at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations in Jim's name may be made to the Little Lighthouse School for special needs children in Tulsa, Okla.
Expressions of love and sympathy may be viewed online at www.emeraldcoastfuneralhome.com.
Emerald Coast Funeral Home
113 Racetrack Road Fort Walton Beach, FL 32547
(850) 864-3361
Published Online in Northwest Florida Daily News from Nov. 27 to Nov. 28, 2014
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