Alan D Whelpley's Obituary
Alan Donald Whelpley, age 69 of Palm Coast, Florida, died November 18, 2022. Alan was born in Brunswick, GA, a small town on Georgia's coast in May of 1953, to parents Donald A. Whelpley and Pearle K. Whelpley. Alan grew up in Atlanta, GA and Charleston, SC in the '50s and '60s. In 1966, his family moved to Indian Harbour Beach, Florida. Like many other families at that time, his father moved the family here so he could work on the Apollo Space Program. Alan and the family enjoyed watching the huge Saturn 5 rockets on their way to the moon, lighting up the night sky. Growing up a couple of blocks from the ocean, Alan learned to surf and was very passionate about it for many years. Even later in life he still loved going to the beach and spending time on the St. Johns and Indian Rivers with his boat or jetski, with his girlfriend of many years, Judy Ginty.
Alan went to the University of Florida and graduated in 1976 with a B.A. in Art, specializing in drawing. After graduation, he worked as a technical illustrator for a number of years, and worked in California's Silicon Valley during the 1980s after moving there with the family. By the mid '90s he began to do more Graphic Design work and which became his expertise. During his career, he worked at the Kennedy Space Center and for a few high tech/military companies, and for the Florida TODAY newspaper. He produced a wide variety of work in the field of Art, creating everything from magazine and newspaper ads to paintings, murals, graphic design, web design, photography, and even cartoons.
He also became certified as an Art and History teacher and taught Art full time as a substitute teacher and a teacher's assistant for various schools in Brevard County. He also did freelance as a graphic designer. Throughout much of his life Alan played guitar and loved listening to music as his brother Brad did. He frequently spent time in, on, under or around the water, whether it was the ocean or one of the beautiful rivers in this area of Florida.
Alan was predeceased by his parents Donald A. Whelpley and Pearle K. Whelpley, and his brother, Ralph Bradford Whelpley. He is survived by his girlfriend, Judy Ginty (Indian Harbour Beach), and his first cousins Blair M. Huffman, Gregory L. Huffman, and Amoret (Ami) Klene.
A memorial service will be held in Brunswick, Georgia, at the Palmetto Cemetery 3412 Ross Rd, Brunswick, GA 31520 (Section 211, Lot 6), on Saturday, January 14th at 11 am. Afterwards some family and friends will gather at the Marshside Grille.
In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation in Alan’s name to Habitat for Humanity (habitat.org).
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