William Arthur Whittle, known as Bill or "Buddy," a longtime resident of Corpus Christi, attorney, and businessman, passed away on Tuesday, February 21, 2023, at the age of 77 in Dallas.
He was preceded in death by his parents Claude and Mary Lois Whittle, his brother Robert Whittle, and his daughter Amanda Marie Whittle.
He is survived by his former wife of forty years Ricki Jackson Whittle and four children: Melinda Marie Mansfield and her husband Robert Mansfield, Mary Melissa Whittle and her husband Jack Simms, Erin Jackson Cazalas and her husband Paul Cazalas, and Eric Ebbenga. He is also survived by his brother Claude Michael Whittle and wife Susie Whittle. He has nine grandchildren.
Bill was born on November 26, 1945, in Pensacola, Florida. Because his father was in the Navy, the family moved many times. He lived in Kansas, Virginia, and California before settling in Texas. He was a standout swimmer and wrestler in high school. Bill earned undergraduate degrees at Del Mar College and North Texas State University. During college, he worked as a lifeguard at the Naval Air Station where he met his first wife, René Haas. Bill was also known for having a fine singing voice and enjoyed singing in the Del Mar choir where he was often a soloist, church choirs, and later with his daughters.
Bill earned a Doctor of Jurisprudence from the University of Texas in 1970 and was admitted to the Texas Bar that same year. Among his many professional affiliations, he was a member of the Fraternal Order of Barristers and the American Judicature Society. In 1974, he received the Outstanding Young Lawyer award from the Nueces County Bar Association. In 1975, Bill became a partner and later the Chairman of the Business Practice Group of a prominent South Texas law firm.
Unfortunately, Bill suffered severe injuries from an automobile collision in 1982. Ricki moved him and the family to the Dallas-Fort Worth area to work on his recovery. The former wrestler and swimmer never shied away from the tireless work of rehabilitation. Also in 1982, he became President of a South-Texas based private business, which operated several subsidiary businesses throughout the United States. In 1984, he organized a partnership to hold and operate oil and gas producing properties, operate other business interests, and to produce a two-hour television special on the Texas Sesquicentennial Celebration, which was aired in 1987 on the ABC Television Network.
In the late 1980's, he returned to Corpus Christi and practiced law with The Honorable Judge Sandra Watts and then his own law firm, focused on business organizations, immigration law, estates and trusts, real estate matters, and representing debtors in bankruptcy. Bill served as a member of the governing council of the American Bar Association (Real Estate, Probate and Trust Law Section), as Chairman of the Nueces County Mental Health-Mental Retardation Community Center, and as Chairman of the Nueces County Democratic Party Executive Committee. He remained active in Democratic politics throughout his life. From 1974 through 1986, he served as a director of Texas Commerce Bank and from 1988 through 2000, he served as a Del Mar College Regent. He was a member of the First Baptist Church of Corpus Christi. Bill was an avid hunter and sportsman and noted with regret in his last weeks that he wanted to hunt "just one more deer." He especially loved passing along his hunting knowledge to his sons-in-law and grandchildren. Bill, his daughters, and their families have all hunted South Texas with Bill and share fond and funny memories of his bending the laws of physics as he piloted a Vintage Suburban through the brush. He was a Bridge Life Master during college and was sought-after partner in the rarefied world of Bridge; he started playing again after he retired from his law practice and re-earned his status. He told bad jokes, repeated his best stories, and he had a great laugh.
The family wishes to extend its deepest gratitude to caregivers and medical professionals who helped him as he persevered through cancer treatment.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that contributions be sent to Corpus Christi Food Bank, M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, First Baptist Church, or the charity of your choice.
A memorial service will be held at the First Baptist Church Chapel on March 2, 2023, at 11 o'clock in the morning.
He was preceded in death by his parents Claude and Mary Lois Whittle, his brother Robert Whittle, and his daughter Amanda Marie Whittle.
He is survived by his former wife of forty years Ricki Jackson Whittle and four children: Melinda Marie Mansfield and her husband Robert Mansfield, Mary Melissa Whittle and her husband Jack Simms, Erin Jackson Cazalas and her husband Paul Cazalas, and Eric Ebbenga. He is also survived by his brother Claude Michael Whittle and wife Susie Whittle. He has nine grandchildren.
Bill was born on November 26, 1945, in Pensacola, Florida. Because his father was in the Navy, the family moved many times. He lived in Kansas, Virginia, and California before settling in Texas. He was a standout swimmer and wrestler in high school. Bill earned undergraduate degrees at Del Mar College and North Texas State University. During college, he worked as a lifeguard at the Naval Air Station where he met his first wife, René Haas. Bill was also known for having a fine singing voice and enjoyed singing in the Del Mar choir where he was often a soloist, church choirs, and later with his daughters.
Bill earned a Doctor of Jurisprudence from the University of Texas in 1970 and was admitted to the Texas Bar that same year. Among his many professional affiliations, he was a member of the Fraternal Order of Barristers and the American Judicature Society. In 1974, he received the Outstanding Young Lawyer award from the Nueces County Bar Association. In 1975, Bill became a partner and later the Chairman of the Business Practice Group of a prominent South Texas law firm.
Unfortunately, Bill suffered severe injuries from an automobile collision in 1982. Ricki moved him and the family to the Dallas-Fort Worth area to work on his recovery. The former wrestler and swimmer never shied away from the tireless work of rehabilitation. Also in 1982, he became President of a South-Texas based private business, which operated several subsidiary businesses throughout the United States. In 1984, he organized a partnership to hold and operate oil and gas producing properties, operate other business interests, and to produce a two-hour television special on the Texas Sesquicentennial Celebration, which was aired in 1987 on the ABC Television Network.
In the late 1980's, he returned to Corpus Christi and practiced law with The Honorable Judge Sandra Watts and then his own law firm, focused on business organizations, immigration law, estates and trusts, real estate matters, and representing debtors in bankruptcy. Bill served as a member of the governing council of the American Bar Association (Real Estate, Probate and Trust Law Section), as Chairman of the Nueces County Mental Health-Mental Retardation Community Center, and as Chairman of the Nueces County Democratic Party Executive Committee. He remained active in Democratic politics throughout his life. From 1974 through 1986, he served as a director of Texas Commerce Bank and from 1988 through 2000, he served as a Del Mar College Regent. He was a member of the First Baptist Church of Corpus Christi. Bill was an avid hunter and sportsman and noted with regret in his last weeks that he wanted to hunt "just one more deer." He especially loved passing along his hunting knowledge to his sons-in-law and grandchildren. Bill, his daughters, and their families have all hunted South Texas with Bill and share fond and funny memories of his bending the laws of physics as he piloted a Vintage Suburban through the brush. He was a Bridge Life Master during college and was sought-after partner in the rarefied world of Bridge; he started playing again after he retired from his law practice and re-earned his status. He told bad jokes, repeated his best stories, and he had a great laugh.
The family wishes to extend its deepest gratitude to caregivers and medical professionals who helped him as he persevered through cancer treatment.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that contributions be sent to Corpus Christi Food Bank, M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, First Baptist Church, or the charity of your choice.
A memorial service will be held at the First Baptist Church Chapel on March 2, 2023, at 11 o'clock in the morning.
William Arthur Whittle, known as Bill or "Buddy," a longtime resident of Corpus Christi, attorney, and businessman, passed away on Tuesday, February 21, 2023, at the age of 77 in Dallas.
He was preceded in death by his parents Claude and Mary Lois Whittle, his brother Robert Whittle, and his daughter Amanda Marie Whittle.
He is survived by his former wife of forty years Ricki Jackson Whittle and four children: Melinda Marie Mansfield and her husband Robert Mansfield, Mary Melissa Whittle and her husband Jack Simms, Erin Jackson Cazalas and her husband Paul Cazalas, and Eric Ebbenga. He is also survived by his brother Claude Michael Whittle and wife Susie Whittle. He has nine grandchildren.
Bill was born on November 26, 1945, in Pensacola, Florida. Because his father was in the Navy, the family moved many times. He lived in Kansas, Virginia, and California before settling in Texas. He was a standout swimmer and wrestler in high school. Bill earned undergraduate degrees at Del Mar College and North Texas State University. During college, he worked as a lifeguard at the Naval Air Station where he met his first wife, René Haas. Bill was also known for having a fine singing voice and enjoyed singing in the Del Mar choir where he was often a soloist, church choirs, and later with his daughters.
Bill earned a Doctor of Jurisprudence from the University of Texas in 1970 and was admitted to the Texas Bar that same year. Among his many professional affiliations, he was a member of the Fraternal Order of Barristers and the American Judicature Society. In 1974, he received the Outstanding Young Lawyer award from the Nueces County Bar Association. In 1975, Bill became a partner and later the Chairman of the Business Practice Group of a prominent South Texas law firm.
Unfortunately, Bill suffered severe injuries from an automobile collision in 1982. Ricki moved him and the family to the Dallas-Fort Worth area to work on his recovery. The former wrestler and swimmer never shied away from the tireless work of rehabilitation. Also in 1982, he became President of a South-Texas based private business, which operated several subsidiary businesses throughout the United States. In 1984, he organized a partnership to hold and operate oil and gas producing properties, operate other business interests, and to produce a two-hour television special on the Texas Sesquicentennial Celebration, which was aired in 1987 on the ABC Television Network.
In the late 1980's, he returned to Corpus Christi and practiced law with The Honorable Judge Sandra Watts and then his own law firm, focused on business organizations, immigration law, estates and trusts, real estate matters, and representing debtors in bankruptcy. Bill served as a member of the governing council of the American Bar Association (Real Estate, Probate and Trust Law Section), as Chairman of the Nueces County Mental Health-Mental Retardation Community Center, and as Chairman of the Nueces County Democratic Party Executive Committee. He remained active in Democratic politics throughout his life. From 1974 through 1986, he served as a director of Texas Commerce Bank and from 1988 through 2000, he served as a Del Mar College Regent. He was a member of the First Baptist Church of Corpus Christi. Bill was an avid hunter and sportsman and noted with regret in his last weeks that he wanted to hunt "just one more deer." He especially loved passing along his hunting knowledge to his sons-in-law and grandchildren. Bill, his daughters, and their families have all hunted South Texas with Bill and share fond and funny memories of his bending the laws of physics as he piloted a Vintage Suburban through the brush. He was a Bridge Life Master during college and was sought-after partner in the rarefied world of Bridge; he started playing again after he retired from his law practice and re-earned his status. He told bad jokes, repeated his best stories, and he had a great laugh.
The family wishes to extend its deepest gratitude to caregivers and medical professionals who helped him as he persevered through cancer treatment.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that contributions be sent to Corpus Christi Food Bank, M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, First Baptist Church, or the charity of your choice.
A memorial service will be held at the First Baptist Church Chapel on March 2, 2023, at 11 o'clock in the morning.
He was preceded in death by his parents Claude and Mary Lois Whittle, his brother Robert Whittle, and his daughter Amanda Marie Whittle.
He is survived by his former wife of forty years Ricki Jackson Whittle and four children: Melinda Marie Mansfield and her husband Robert Mansfield, Mary Melissa Whittle and her husband Jack Simms, Erin Jackson Cazalas and her husband Paul Cazalas, and Eric Ebbenga. He is also survived by his brother Claude Michael Whittle and wife Susie Whittle. He has nine grandchildren.
Bill was born on November 26, 1945, in Pensacola, Florida. Because his father was in the Navy, the family moved many times. He lived in Kansas, Virginia, and California before settling in Texas. He was a standout swimmer and wrestler in high school. Bill earned undergraduate degrees at Del Mar College and North Texas State University. During college, he worked as a lifeguard at the Naval Air Station where he met his first wife, René Haas. Bill was also known for having a fine singing voice and enjoyed singing in the Del Mar choir where he was often a soloist, church choirs, and later with his daughters.
Bill earned a Doctor of Jurisprudence from the University of Texas in 1970 and was admitted to the Texas Bar that same year. Among his many professional affiliations, he was a member of the Fraternal Order of Barristers and the American Judicature Society. In 1974, he received the Outstanding Young Lawyer award from the Nueces County Bar Association. In 1975, Bill became a partner and later the Chairman of the Business Practice Group of a prominent South Texas law firm.
Unfortunately, Bill suffered severe injuries from an automobile collision in 1982. Ricki moved him and the family to the Dallas-Fort Worth area to work on his recovery. The former wrestler and swimmer never shied away from the tireless work of rehabilitation. Also in 1982, he became President of a South-Texas based private business, which operated several subsidiary businesses throughout the United States. In 1984, he organized a partnership to hold and operate oil and gas producing properties, operate other business interests, and to produce a two-hour television special on the Texas Sesquicentennial Celebration, which was aired in 1987 on the ABC Television Network.
In the late 1980's, he returned to Corpus Christi and practiced law with The Honorable Judge Sandra Watts and then his own law firm, focused on business organizations, immigration law, estates and trusts, real estate matters, and representing debtors in bankruptcy. Bill served as a member of the governing council of the American Bar Association (Real Estate, Probate and Trust Law Section), as Chairman of the Nueces County Mental Health-Mental Retardation Community Center, and as Chairman of the Nueces County Democratic Party Executive Committee. He remained active in Democratic politics throughout his life. From 1974 through 1986, he served as a director of Texas Commerce Bank and from 1988 through 2000, he served as a Del Mar College Regent. He was a member of the First Baptist Church of Corpus Christi. Bill was an avid hunter and sportsman and noted with regret in his last weeks that he wanted to hunt "just one more deer." He especially loved passing along his hunting knowledge to his sons-in-law and grandchildren. Bill, his daughters, and their families have all hunted South Texas with Bill and share fond and funny memories of his bending the laws of physics as he piloted a Vintage Suburban through the brush. He was a Bridge Life Master during college and was sought-after partner in the rarefied world of Bridge; he started playing again after he retired from his law practice and re-earned his status. He told bad jokes, repeated his best stories, and he had a great laugh.
The family wishes to extend its deepest gratitude to caregivers and medical professionals who helped him as he persevered through cancer treatment.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that contributions be sent to Corpus Christi Food Bank, M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, First Baptist Church, or the charity of your choice.
A memorial service will be held at the First Baptist Church Chapel on March 2, 2023, at 11 o'clock in the morning.
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