Virgil Earl Whiteley was born Oct. 1, 1926, to Earl and Viola Whiteley in Walla Walla.
He attended Berney and Braden grade schools and graduated from Walla Walla High School. Upon graduation, he enlisted in the Army Air Corps and served until the end of World War II. After the war, he enrolled at Washington State University and graduated in 1949 with a degree in agricultural economics. That same year he married Esther Keith.
Upon graduation, he was appointed to a faculty position at WSU. A year later, he moved to Walla Walla and worked for the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation in the planning of major water and power projects throughout the Pacific Northwest. In 1952, he moved to Olympia and worked for the chief of the Washington State Patrol to improve operating efficiency within the patrol. He introduced the first computer operations and the use of radar. In 1954, he returned to Walla Walla where he worked for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. A year later, he transferred to the San Francisco district of the Corps of Engineers. A year later, he moved to Sacramento and worked as a senior economist on planning and financing the California water project as well as many other water projects in the state. In 1962, he accepted a position as chief economist for International Engineering Co., in San Francisco and worked on water projects throughout the world.
During this time, he also served as a consultant to the Turkish government on its water projects. In 1966, he returned to work for the state of California. He spent two years as chief economist on a special water-quality study of the 11 counties surrounding the San Francisco Bay area. In 1968, he began work with the Department of Water Resources as an economist on a variety of water programs. In 1971, he accepted an exempt position in the department of finance under Gov. Reagan's administration. He worked on several areas including college and university budgets and others. He also served as personnel officer for the finance department. Upon the conclusion of the Reagan administration, he returned to the Department of Water Resources and worked for the director of the department on financial and management of programs. His final work at the time of his retirement in 1985 was that of financial adviser.
Following retirement, he returned to his hometown of Walla Walla, where he began doing volunteer work in many areas through the "retired senior volunteer program" (RSVP). Among those were Senior Corps of Retired Executives, the state health Insurance benefit adviser, as well as serving on the board of RSVP. In 1996, he helped to create "Friends of RSVP" and served as chairman until 2007.
He also served for three years as chairman of the Walla Walla County Board of Equalization. He was a member of the Walla Walla Country Club, Phi Kappa Tau Fraternity and Walla Walla Historical Auto Club. He enjoyed old-car tours, playing golf and collecting old cameras. He received his greatest joy in playing Santa Claus to raise funds for nonprofit organizations, which he did for many years.
He was preceded in death by his two daughters, Barbara in 1970 and Marilyn in 1971; his brothers, Harold and Darrell. He is survived by his wife, Esther, the love of his life; two brothers, Glen of Spokane and Donald of Challis, Idaho; nieces and nephews.
He attended Berney and Braden grade schools and graduated from Walla Walla High School. Upon graduation, he enlisted in the Army Air Corps and served until the end of World War II. After the war, he enrolled at Washington State University and graduated in 1949 with a degree in agricultural economics. That same year he married Esther Keith.
Upon graduation, he was appointed to a faculty position at WSU. A year later, he moved to Walla Walla and worked for the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation in the planning of major water and power projects throughout the Pacific Northwest. In 1952, he moved to Olympia and worked for the chief of the Washington State Patrol to improve operating efficiency within the patrol. He introduced the first computer operations and the use of radar. In 1954, he returned to Walla Walla where he worked for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. A year later, he transferred to the San Francisco district of the Corps of Engineers. A year later, he moved to Sacramento and worked as a senior economist on planning and financing the California water project as well as many other water projects in the state. In 1962, he accepted a position as chief economist for International Engineering Co., in San Francisco and worked on water projects throughout the world.
During this time, he also served as a consultant to the Turkish government on its water projects. In 1966, he returned to work for the state of California. He spent two years as chief economist on a special water-quality study of the 11 counties surrounding the San Francisco Bay area. In 1968, he began work with the Department of Water Resources as an economist on a variety of water programs. In 1971, he accepted an exempt position in the department of finance under Gov. Reagan's administration. He worked on several areas including college and university budgets and others. He also served as personnel officer for the finance department. Upon the conclusion of the Reagan administration, he returned to the Department of Water Resources and worked for the director of the department on financial and management of programs. His final work at the time of his retirement in 1985 was that of financial adviser.
Following retirement, he returned to his hometown of Walla Walla, where he began doing volunteer work in many areas through the "retired senior volunteer program" (RSVP). Among those were Senior Corps of Retired Executives, the state health Insurance benefit adviser, as well as serving on the board of RSVP. In 1996, he helped to create "Friends of RSVP" and served as chairman until 2007.
He also served for three years as chairman of the Walla Walla County Board of Equalization. He was a member of the Walla Walla Country Club, Phi Kappa Tau Fraternity and Walla Walla Historical Auto Club. He enjoyed old-car tours, playing golf and collecting old cameras. He received his greatest joy in playing Santa Claus to raise funds for nonprofit organizations, which he did for many years.
He was preceded in death by his two daughters, Barbara in 1970 and Marilyn in 1971; his brothers, Harold and Darrell. He is survived by his wife, Esther, the love of his life; two brothers, Glen of Spokane and Donald of Challis, Idaho; nieces and nephews.
Virgil Earl Whiteley was born Oct. 1, 1926, to Earl and Viola Whiteley in Walla Walla.
He attended Berney and Braden grade schools and graduated from Walla Walla High School. Upon graduation, he enlisted in the Army Air Corps and served until the end of World War II. After the war, he enrolled at Washington State University and graduated in 1949 with a degree in agricultural economics. That same year he married Esther Keith.
Upon graduation, he was appointed to a faculty position at WSU. A year later, he moved to Walla Walla and worked for the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation in the planning of major water and power projects throughout the Pacific Northwest. In 1952, he moved to Olympia and worked for the chief of the Washington State Patrol to improve operating efficiency within the patrol. He introduced the first computer operations and the use of radar. In 1954, he returned to Walla Walla where he worked for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. A year later, he transferred to the San Francisco district of the Corps of Engineers. A year later, he moved to Sacramento and worked as a senior economist on planning and financing the California water project as well as many other water projects in the state. In 1962, he accepted a position as chief economist for International Engineering Co., in San Francisco and worked on water projects throughout the world.
During this time, he also served as a consultant to the Turkish government on its water projects. In 1966, he returned to work for the state of California. He spent two years as chief economist on a special water-quality study of the 11 counties surrounding the San Francisco Bay area. In 1968, he began work with the Department of Water Resources as an economist on a variety of water programs. In 1971, he accepted an exempt position in the department of finance under Gov. Reagan's administration. He worked on several areas including college and university budgets and others. He also served as personnel officer for the finance department. Upon the conclusion of the Reagan administration, he returned to the Department of Water Resources and worked for the director of the department on financial and management of programs. His final work at the time of his retirement in 1985 was that of financial adviser.
Following retirement, he returned to his hometown of Walla Walla, where he began doing volunteer work in many areas through the "retired senior volunteer program" (RSVP). Among those were Senior Corps of Retired Executives, the state health Insurance benefit adviser, as well as serving on the board of RSVP. In 1996, he helped to create "Friends of RSVP" and served as chairman until 2007.
He also served for three years as chairman of the Walla Walla County Board of Equalization. He was a member of the Walla Walla Country Club, Phi Kappa Tau Fraternity and Walla Walla Historical Auto Club. He enjoyed old-car tours, playing golf and collecting old cameras. He received his greatest joy in playing Santa Claus to raise funds for nonprofit organizations, which he did for many years.
He was preceded in death by his two daughters, Barbara in 1970 and Marilyn in 1971; his brothers, Harold and Darrell. He is survived by his wife, Esther, the love of his life; two brothers, Glen of Spokane and Donald of Challis, Idaho; nieces and nephews.
He attended Berney and Braden grade schools and graduated from Walla Walla High School. Upon graduation, he enlisted in the Army Air Corps and served until the end of World War II. After the war, he enrolled at Washington State University and graduated in 1949 with a degree in agricultural economics. That same year he married Esther Keith.
Upon graduation, he was appointed to a faculty position at WSU. A year later, he moved to Walla Walla and worked for the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation in the planning of major water and power projects throughout the Pacific Northwest. In 1952, he moved to Olympia and worked for the chief of the Washington State Patrol to improve operating efficiency within the patrol. He introduced the first computer operations and the use of radar. In 1954, he returned to Walla Walla where he worked for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. A year later, he transferred to the San Francisco district of the Corps of Engineers. A year later, he moved to Sacramento and worked as a senior economist on planning and financing the California water project as well as many other water projects in the state. In 1962, he accepted a position as chief economist for International Engineering Co., in San Francisco and worked on water projects throughout the world.
During this time, he also served as a consultant to the Turkish government on its water projects. In 1966, he returned to work for the state of California. He spent two years as chief economist on a special water-quality study of the 11 counties surrounding the San Francisco Bay area. In 1968, he began work with the Department of Water Resources as an economist on a variety of water programs. In 1971, he accepted an exempt position in the department of finance under Gov. Reagan's administration. He worked on several areas including college and university budgets and others. He also served as personnel officer for the finance department. Upon the conclusion of the Reagan administration, he returned to the Department of Water Resources and worked for the director of the department on financial and management of programs. His final work at the time of his retirement in 1985 was that of financial adviser.
Following retirement, he returned to his hometown of Walla Walla, where he began doing volunteer work in many areas through the "retired senior volunteer program" (RSVP). Among those were Senior Corps of Retired Executives, the state health Insurance benefit adviser, as well as serving on the board of RSVP. In 1996, he helped to create "Friends of RSVP" and served as chairman until 2007.
He also served for three years as chairman of the Walla Walla County Board of Equalization. He was a member of the Walla Walla Country Club, Phi Kappa Tau Fraternity and Walla Walla Historical Auto Club. He enjoyed old-car tours, playing golf and collecting old cameras. He received his greatest joy in playing Santa Claus to raise funds for nonprofit organizations, which he did for many years.
He was preceded in death by his two daughters, Barbara in 1970 and Marilyn in 1971; his brothers, Harold and Darrell. He is survived by his wife, Esther, the love of his life; two brothers, Glen of Spokane and Donald of Challis, Idaho; nieces and nephews.
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