Richard E. Whall

BRADFORD – Richard E. Whall passed away peacefully at his home in Bradford, N.H. on Friday, April 1, 2016. He had just celebrated his 92nd birthday where he was surrounded by family and friends.

Richard "Dick" Whall grew up in Athol, Mass., son of Richard A. Whall and Anna M. Stiles Whall. He graduated from Athol High School in 1941. Dick served in the US Army during WWII from 1943 to 1946.  He received his B.S. from Northeastern University in 1951.  He married Phyllis W. Greene on June 16, 1951. Following his graduation and their marriage, the couple moved to New Jersey which served as their home base for 33 years before they retired to Bradford, N.H. in 1984. They also enjoyed spending time at the family's fishing camp on Sportsman's Pond in Athol.

Dick Whall had a long and successful career of 33 years working for Esso Research and Engineering (later Exxon)  including 9 years in Exxon Chemicals. Dick travelled extensively throughout the world while working for Exxon, including Libya, Argentina, Japan, Germany, France and Scotland. He also worked and lived with his wife and children in Bari, Livorno, Rome, Milan, Southern England, London and suburban Sweden. Dick and Phyllis also lived in Baton Rouge, La. and Newport, Calif.

Dick was a member of the Athol-Orange Baptist Church, the Brookside Community Church and the First Baptist Church of Bradford, serving on the board of trustees of Brookside and Bradford.  Following his retirement, Dick became very active in Bradford, creating a master plan for the town, working on restorations for the Historical Society and was Chairman of the Bradford Bicentennial Committee in 1987.  The Bicentennial Celebration was a 2 ½ year project  that took place in July of that year.

Dick is survived by his two daughters, Laurie Ann Whall of Long Beach, Calif. and Elizabeth Mary Whall of La Jolla, Calif., her husband Steven, two grandchildren Chloe L. Hartt at Eckerd College and Simon W. Hartt who will be attending Cornell University in the fall. Dick's wife Phyllis passed away in February 2015. His foster sister Pauline Whipps passed away in February 2016 and is survived by her husband George Whipps of Athol, Mass.

A memorial service is planned for Richard Whall at the First Baptist Church of Bradford on Saturday, June 18 at 11:00 a.m.  There will also be a graveside memorial service in Athol, Mass. at a date sometime this summer, 2016.

In lieu of flowers any donations should be directed to the First Baptist Church of Bradford, R.E. Whall Memorial Fund or the  Sullivan County Humane Society.