Richard Melbourne Whitman

Richard Melbourne Whitman, 84, passed away peacefully on December 26, 2023 at his daughter’s home in Midland, Texas.

Richard was born on August 1, 1939 in Weymouth, Massachusetts to Archie and Bernice (Geddes) Whitman.  He was the firstborn of nine children.  Richard graduated from Rockland High School in Rockland, Massachusetts with the class of 1957.  He went on to serve in the United States Air Force.  He was assigned to the USAF Security service as a radio intercept operator, stationed in Turkey.  He completed his active duty in 1962 at Goodfellow AFB and was moved to reserve status.  While at Goodfellow AFB, he met his wife Helen Marie Dusek of Wall, Texas.

Richard went to work for IBM in 1962 and retired after 30 years of service.  He received numerous awards for outstanding performance with IBM.  After IBM, he went on to work for Rogers Ford, Jacob’s Electronics and Car Quest.

Richard and Helen had one child, Joyce Marie, and showered her with love.  He had two grandchildren, Jeffrey Maxwell and James Richard Fritts.  He loved his grandchildren with all his heart.  Toward the end of his life, suffering from the effects of Alzheimer’s dementia, he would always get a huge smile on his face when Jeffrey and James would come see him.  They were the light of his life.

The last 2 ½ years of his life he spent with his daughter Joyce and her husband DJ.  They traveled all over Texas visiting family and enjoying dining out.  He enjoyed every minute.

Richard is survived by his daughter Joyce and her husband DJ Widman; sisters, Sandra Smith and Nancy Fuller of Massachusetts; brothers, Bruce and Paul Whitman of Massachusetts; brother Robert Whitman of Florida; grandsons, Jeffrey and wife Sabrina (Ureste) Fritts and James Richard Fritts, all of Midland, Texas; great grandson Jaxxon Ares Fritts and his brothers Jaydenn, Jrae and Brayden; step grandchildren include Toby and wife Danielle Widman of Midland, Tori and husband Caleb Eaton of Midland, Benji and husband Dwight of San Angelo, TX, Kelsey and husband Zach Sasin of Granbury, TX, and Dustin, Brooklyn, Colten, Grayson and Carson; brother-in-law Henry and wife Nelda Dusek of San Angelo, TX; and 19 nieces and 11 nephews.

Richard is preceded in death by his parents, Archie and Bernice Whitman, brothers Arthur and Allan Whitman, sister Marilyn Doody and wife Helen Marie Whitman.

Memorial service will be held at 2:00 p.m., Saturday, January 6, 2024 at Nalley-Pickle & Welch Funeral Home Chapel.

Arrangements are under the direction of Nalley-Pickle & Welch Funeral Home & Crematory of Midland. Online condolences can be made at www.npwelch.com.

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