Richard Glover "Dick" Wilhite

Richard "Dick" Glover Wilhite, 85, formerly of Moingona, Iowa, passed away on Wednesday, July 30, 2025, at Eastern Star Masonic Home in Boone. He was born on September 22, 1939, in Centertown, Missouri, the son of Richard and Edna (Cheatham) Wilhite. Dick graduated from Boone High School in 1957. Dick proudly served with the US Air Force from 1958 to 1962.
Dick first met Rose at Mallas' Café in West Boone. They were married in Fraser, IA, on June 8, 1958, with their dear friends, Don Wilcox and Deanna (Wilson) Wilcox, as witnesses.
Dick and Rose welcomed their son Steven, on April 21, 1960, in Dickinson, North Dakota. Later Dick was stationed in Cape Cod, Massachusetts, where he was discharged from active duty in 1962. While driving from Massachusetts to his new job as air traffic controller in Denver, CO, Rose went into labor just outside of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Kevin was born on June 5, 1962, in Sewickley, Pennsylvania. Their friends, who were also recently discharged from active duty, were following them and drove Steven, just two years old, to Boone, IA, where he stayed with his grandparents, LeRoy and Mary Foster. Dick continued his drive to Denver, where he was required to check in for his new job. Five days later, Rose boarded a flight, with newborn Kevin, from Pittsburgh to Des Moines, where she stayed with her parents in Boone until she was able to join Dick in Denver.
Dick and Rose lived in numerous states during his tenure with the Air Force and FAA: Denver, CO (x2), Butte, Montana, Olathe, Kansas, Prescott, Arizona. No matter where they lived, they opened their home to many Iowa visitors.
In 1989, Dick retired from the FAA after 30 years of service as an Air Traffic Controller. He and Rose then made their home in Moingona, where they built their dream home on the Hornbeck property.
Dick loved his sons, Steven and Kevin, and his grandson, Christopher Alongi. Dick and Rose supported their sons when they participated in school sports: wrestling, football, and baseball.
Dick and Rose enjoyed traveling throughout the US. Especially salmon fishing in Alaska with their dear friends Bev and Jack Bronner (both now deceased) of Anchorage, Alaska. They also enjoyed a trip to Puerto Rico with their friends, Priscilla and Dan McGinnis of Prescott, AZ, as well as visiting their grandson Christopher and great-grandchildren, Inara (age 12) and Indigo (age 9) in Oakland (San Francisco) California. They enjoyed numerous trips to Laughlin and Las Vegas, Nevada, while residing in Prescott.
Dick was preceded in death by his wife, Rose Wilhite; son, Kevin Wilhite; parents, Richard and Edna Wilhite; brothers: Raymond, Eugene, Billy, Donald, and Franklin Wilhite; and sister, Sarah Wyriek.
He is survived by his son, Steven Wilhite of Prescott Valley, AZ; grandson, Christopher Alongi and his husband, Lucas Vital of Oakland, CA; two great-grandchildren, Inara and Indigo Alongi, of Oakland, CA, as well as several nieces and nephews. Dick will be missed by all.
A celebration of life will be held at a later date. Burial will be in Oakwood Cemetery in Moingona.
Schroeder-Stark-Welin Funeral Home, 515-432-4550.