William Delos Whinery's Obituary
WILLIAM DELOS WHINERY,
Following an extended illness, a compassionate, loyal, highly talented, and intelligent son, brother, uncle, and friend
left those who cared about him on January 6, 2015. Bill was born in Pittsfield, MA on October 15, 1938 to Gwendolyn and Bill Whinery, where his father was a research engineer tor General Electric. The family moved to Tacoma in 1941, where they established a permanent home. Bill attended schools in the Tacoma, University Place, and Clover Park school systems, graduating from Clover Park High School in 1956. He received degrees from the University of Puget Sound in 1960 in Business
Administration and Mathematics, where he received many academic and social honors. While at UPS he was a member of Sigma Nu fraternity, sang with the Adelphian Concert Choir and the University Madrigal Singers, and was active in many organizations, and student government. In 1963 he earned a Masters in Electrical Engineering from the University ot
Washington, where he was elected to the Society of Sigma Xi, an organization dedicated to the promotion of scientific research, an honor he considered the primary award of his academic career. Having been commission as a 2nd Lt. through the ROTC program at UPS, he served in the Air Force in the research department at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, where he helped develop the control systems for missile systerns. Following his service, he returned to Tacorna, where he managed the fixed-based operations at the Tacoma Industrlal Airport, Tide-Air.
In 1967 he married Linda Stack, and the couple moved to New York City, when he joined the Citibank Management Training Program. He had rapid promotions and oversaw the Petroleum Department and, later, the Commercial real Estate Department. As a vice president, he moved to Japan, where for seven years, he represented the Asian-Pacific on the bank's Senior Credit Policy Committee. Leaving Citibank, he became a senior vice-president with Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi NY.
While Bill received many promotions and honors during his professional life, what really defined him was his love of the arts, especially music. From his youth, he was noted for his beautiful voice, which later grew to become second tenor with the warmth of a baritone. His love and dedication to his gift followed him throughout his life, and he participated in various choral groups wherever he lived. In NYC he joined the 5th Avenue Presbyterian Church, where he was the only non-professional of 22 voice choir, all else sang with the NYC Opera Company or the Metropolitan. Later in life, he became an accomplished artist, where pastels became his preferred medium. In NY he received various prizes for his works, which gave him a great sense of accomplishment.
In 2009 he returned to Tacoma, and until recently, resided in the assisted living facility at Franke Tobey Jones. He is survived by his sister, Roberta Brasier, nephews, Christian and Fielding Brasier, and his former wife, Linda Stack Wolfe.
A memorial service celebrating Bill will be held on January 28, 2015 at 2:00 pm in the Chapel at the University Place Presbyterian Church, University Place, WA 98466. in lieu of flowers donations can be made to the University Place Ministry Fund, 8101 27th W, University Place, WA 98466 or the charity of your choice.
Arrangements by Mountain View Funeral Home. Remembrances may be shared at www.mountainviewtacoma.com.
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