A decorated World War II veteran, a loving husband of 63 years and a devoted father to his only daughter. That's what people might recall about Albert Whatley. But no one will forget his sense of humor, said family members.
"He was always teasing with people," said daughter Amy Craig. "He was famous for giving people nicknames."
He had a nickname also. "People called him Deacon because as a young man, he didn't drink, didn't smoke or run around like a lot of his friends did," said Craig.
Mr. Whatley did enlist in the Army during World War II and helped to liberate France on D-Day as an expert rifleman in the 18th infantry of the First Division. "He talked about the French people would come out and hug the soldiers and thank them," said Craig.
Mr. Whatley received numerous awards and honors, including a Purple Heart and a Bronze Star. In September 2010, the French Consulate of Atlanta awarded him the Legion of Honor medal in a ceremony at Warner Robins. It's the highest honor bestowed upon an individual who is not a French citizen.
His daughter said Mr. Whatley was always very humble about the awards. "He said he just felt proud to serve."
Albert Nash Whatley, of Tucker, died of congestive heart failure on Tuesday, Aug. 30 at the Odyssey House, a hospice. He was 89. His service will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at Tom M. Wages Snellville Chapel.
Mr. Whatley was born in Monroe, Ga. He graduated from the former Tech High School in Atlanta, and after leaving the Army, got a job as a neon tube bender -- blowing glass for commercial signs. After that work dried up, Mr. Whatley became an electrician and worked more than 65 years as a member of IBEW Local #613. He retired in 1981 after suffering his first heart attack. "The doctors then didn't think he'd live more than five more years," Craig said. "He lived 30 more, and we're grateful for that."
Mr. Whatley was married for 63 years to Myrna Lee Whatley whom he met when he went to her house with friends who were visiting Myrna Lee's sisters. "We had a wonderful life together," Myrna Lee Whatley said. Mr. Whatley wrote lovingly about their first encounter -- about how beautiful she looked standing by the piano -- in a journal his wife recently gave him while he was in hospice. "I couldn't have asked for a better husband," she said.
After a few years of marriage, the couple discovered they couldn't have children on their own. They adopted Amy when she was three months old. "I was blessed to have him as a dad. He was very devoted to our family," she said.
Besides his wife and daughter, Mr. Whatley is survived by son-in-law Bill Craig of Liberty Township, Ohio; grandsons, Justin Craig of Snellville and Kevin Craig of Liberty Township, Ohio; sister June McEwen of Jackson, Ga. and brother, James Whatley of Monticello, Ga.
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