Robert Whirley Sr.

Robert Wayne Whirley Sr., 65, of Dinwiddie, passed away on Wednesday, November 30, 2011. Born in Petersburg, he was the son of the late Rosa Mae Burton Whirley and Robert J. Whirley Jr. He was a member of Western Heights Baptist Church, the Fishers of Men Sunday school class, and the Brotherhood. Mr. Whirley was the owner/operator of Whirley's Tractor Repair for 38 years. He loved and played bluegrass and gospel music, he was a 12 time VFMA Dobro Champion, and showed Hit & Miss engines. He is survived by his wife, Ruth "Kathy" Whirley; his daughter, Tanya W. Spiers and husband, Gary of Dinwiddie; his son, Robert W. Whirley Jr. and wife, Ashley of Cary, North Carolina; three grandchildren, Morgan & Anna Spiers, and Robert Coleman Whirley; two brothers, John E. Whirley of Stony Creek, and Stoney Whirley Sr. and wife, Pat of Dinwiddie; two uncles, Aubrey "Butch" Whirley and Ollie of Petersburg, and Kenneth Whirley and wife, Sheila of Mechanicsville; four sisters-in-law, Sandy Cannon of Matoaca, Patricia McClure and husband, Bill of La Miranda, California, Betty Ann Stempinski and husband, Walter of El Paso, Texas, and Laura Henricks and husband, Manuel of Lexington, South Carolina; two brothers-in-law, Mike Sweeney of Mitchell, South Dakota and Dickie Cannon of Hopewell; numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and many beloved friends. A funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, December 3, 2011 in Western Heights Baptist Church, 24416 Cox Road, Petersburg, Virginia 23803 with the Reverend Jonathan Dundalow and the Reverend Ron Sowers officiating. Interment will follow in Southlawn Memorial Park, Prince George. The family will receive friends from 10 to 11:00 a.m. Saturday prior to the service at church. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Western Heights Baptist Church Building Fund, or the Western Heights Baptist Church Lottie Moon Mission Fund. Arrangements by the Colonial Heights Chapel of the E. Alvin Small Funeral Homes & Crematory, 2033 Boulevard.