Billy Wayne “Bill” Whaley, 85, resident of Greenwood, husband of Rose Gomillion Whaley, passed away Monday, March 31, 2025, at his home.
Born December 11, 1939, in Bath, SC he was the son of the late William Curtis Whaley and Anne Barrington Whaley. Bill was a 1958 graduate of Langley Bath Clearwater High School where he played in state championships for football, basketball, and baseball. Under the mentorship of Mr. Stathy Vereen, he turned down athletic scholarship offers from several large universities to attend The Citadel. He became a standout two-sport athlete in football and baseball and earned All Southern Conference Honors in each. As a quarterback and linebacker on the football team he led the team to their first SoCon Championship in 1961. It would take The Citadel another 30 years to get their second. He played as a third baseman on the baseball team, leading the SoCon in triples during his senior year, and hitting home runs that secured wins against Clemson and USC. He finished second to Jerry West of West Virginia University and later NBA fame in voting for the SoCon Athlete of the Year. After graduating from The Citadel in 1962 he turned down offers to play professionally in each sport to accept a commission as a 2nd Lieutenant in the US Army. While stationed at Fort Ord in Monterey, CA the base commander ordered him to play in the 8-man league and they wound up winning the championship and he received an offer to play for the San Francisco 49ers. He traded cleats for spikes and became a scratch golfer. He was inducted into The Citadel Athletic Hall of Fame in 1983.
After retiring from the US Army in 1964 he taught and coached football in high school for one year before entering the textile industry. In 1968 he joined Greenwood Mills where he stayed for the next 32 years and retired as the Senior Vice President of Human Resources.
Bill was a member of First Baptist Church and was in the Mauldin Sunday School Class. He was a member of Kiwanis Club, served as an Area Commissioner for Piedmont Technical College, was on the Board of directors for Hospice of the Piedmont and was a founding member of the Greenwood Touchdown Club.
Surviving in addition to his wife of 63 years are a son, Michael (Terri) Whaley of Anderson; a daughter, Susan Kinney of Greenwood; sister, Louise Edenfield of North Augusta; grandchildren, Lauren (Jonathan) Greer of Hodges, Ryan (Mason) Boggs of Greenwood, Taylor (Bailey) Bottini of Greenville, and Jackson Whaley of Charleston; great-grandchildren, Wyatt and Maci Greer, and Weston Whaley Boggs; and caregiver, Beth Evans.
Bill was preceded in death by a son-in-law, William Kinney; a grandson, Kyle Whaley; and brothers, M.L. “Jeep” Whaley and Barry Whaley.
A private family burial will be held at Oakbrook Memorial Park on Sunday, April 6th at 2:00 PM. This will be followed by a celebration of life held at First Baptist Church at 3:00 PM with Rev. John Uldrick officiating.
The family will receive friends following the service in the church Fellowship Hall.
In lieu of flowers memorials may be made in his name to The Citadel Brigadier Foundation online at brigadierfoundation.com, or by mail to The Citadel Brigadier Foundation, 171 Moultrie Street, Charleston, SC 29409, or to the First Baptist Church of Greenwood, 722 Grace Street, Greenwood, SC 29649.
Blyth Funeral Home & Cremation Services is assisting the Whaley family.