David Bullard Whelpley III

David Bullard ("Trey") Whelpley III

May 13, 1992 - July 2, 2025

Asheville, NC

David Bullard Whelpley III ("Trey") of Asheville, 33, departed this life on Wednesday, July 2, 2025. He was born on May 13, 1992, in Charlotte, North Carolina to David Bullard Whelpley, Jr. and Teresa "Tess" Whelpley (neé Dugger). Trey is survived by both of his parents, his beloved brother and sister, James Whitney Austin Whelpley, of Austin, Texas, and Dr. Hannah Elaine Whelpley, of Park City, Utah, and the love of his life, Juliana Groce of Asheville, North Carolina. He is also survived by many beloved aunts, uncles and cousins.

Trey attended high school at The Fletcher School, in Charlotte, North Carolina, and The McCallie School, in Chattanooga, Tennessee, before moving on to attend Appalachian State University, in Boone, North Carolina. After working several years for a residential general contractor, he discovered a love and talent for master carpentry and wood working. He found great joy in creating things with his own hands, especially with beautiful hardwoods, revealing a heart and soul of an artist. Later, Trey sought a degree in mechanical engineering from Western Carolina University and Oregon State University prior to his untimely passing.

Trey was an avid reader from a very early age, devouring each Harry Potter book as it was released before quickly moving on to The Hobbit and J.R.R. Tolkien's other works. Trey continued to be a vivacious reader his whole life, mostly reading novels, ranging from folk and americana to English and Russian literature, but he later also delved into biographies and philosophy. Anyone who had the benefit of engaging Trey in genuine conversation quickly understood the depth of his knowledge and understanding of life and the struggles of humanity. As a writer and a poet, Trey's own short stories and verse cut to the beauty and cruelty of life.

From family, friends, professors, and co-workers, to the random person he happened upon, each would recount what a meaningful and substantive pleasure it was to encounter Trey's sincerity, intellect and caring. Just the sight of Trey entering a room brought a smile to one's face, for you knew that with his quick wit and seemingly boundless knowledge, you were definitely going to laugh and most likely learn something.

Trey's other primary passion was music. Although his tastes in artists and composers appeared eclectic, ranging from Classic Rock, The Grateful Dead to Indie Folk, Country Music to Jazz and Classical music. Trey had the uncanny ability to draw parallels among genres, being able to articulate the influences an artist drew upon those who preceded. Trey's analysis of a composition or body of work and his perception of the artist's motivation in choosing the lyrics or how the music was composed was always eye opening ... always a great conversation. Trey also was a self-taught guitarist, although he only ever played for a select few, and an accomplished craftsman.

Trey was interred at the Green Hills Cemetery on August 24, 2025, surrounded by family and friends, followed by a wonderful celebration of Trey's life, in Asheville. North Carolina.

As an avid outdoorsman, Trey loved to fish and hike the beautiful streams and mountains of Western North Carolina with his faithful rescued redbone coonhound, July (named after Sheriff July Johnson of Larry McMurtry's sweeping epic, "Lonesome Dove"). He hiked a great portion of the Appalachian Trail from Georgia to Virginia, always hoping to complete it all the way to Maine. Memorials and donations may be made in Trey's memory to carolinamountainclub.org or ashevillehumane.org.

"Like the morning sun you come, and like the wind you go" Robert Hunter/Jerome Garcia 1969