Richard Lynn Whisner

Col Richard Lynn Whisner, USAF (ret.), was born January 26, 1934 and passed away March 11, 2018. He grew up in Clarksburg, West Virginia. He was married to Mary Ann "Sam" Whisner (2013), whom he met at Birmingham Southern College, for 57 years. He completed bachelors and masters degrees at West Virginia University, and a masters degree at Auburn University, but perplexed his sons by rooting for the University of Alabama. He served his country in the U.S. Army during the Korean War, and after completing his degrees at WVU, took a commission in the U.S. Air Force. His assignments included Missile Launch Officer during the Cold War, liaison to the Chilean Air Force, the Pentagon, faculty at the Air War College at Maxwell AFB, Chief of Intelligence Plans in the U.S. European Command, and Defense and Air Attach to the U.S. Embassy in Yugoslavia. After retiring to Verbena, Whisner served the community as a member of the Chilton County Republican Party Executive Committee, the Chilton-Clanton Public Library Board, the Rotary Club of Chilton County and the Chilton County Master Gardeners Association. Whisner and his wife continued to travel abroad in retirement, visiting Alaska, Hawaii, Europe, South America, the Mediterranean, the Caribbean and the Baltic with their friends. He is survived by his sons, Richard (Dianne) of Howell, Michigan and Gil (Andrea) of Scottsdale, Arizona. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations be made to the Chilton-Clanton Public Library and the Chilton County Humane Society. A visitation will be held at Martin Funeral Home Friday, March 16th, from 5:00 to 7:00 PM. Interment will follow in Arlington National Cemetery in Washington, D.C. Martin Funeral Home directing. You may leave online condolences for the family on the guest registry at www.martinfuneralhomeinc.com.