John Frederick Whitley

John Frederick Whitley, 88, of Richardson, Texas, passed away Saturday, July 25, 2026.

Memorial services will be at 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 2nd, in Rector Pioneer Chapel. Arrangements are by Rector Funeral Home, 2800 S. Osage St., Amarillo, Texas.

John was born April 25, 1938, in San Diego, California, to John Madison Whitley and Barbara Jackie Cameron. He grew up in San Diego alongside his mother who was an oceanographer for Scripps Institution of Oceanography. Stepfather Kenneth Rimbach (rancher) and stepfather Jack McDermott (Naval Commander/Chemical Engineer) were important influences in his life.

In his early childhood, he attended St. Didacus Parish School in San Diego. He fell in love with sports and spent a great deal of time at the YMCA, where he found a mentor. Together they spent hours training in gymnastics. John would go on to compete in the Junior Olympics in Chicago, specializing in the rings. He attended Lincoln High School in San Diego. He excelled at baseball and was recruited as a “bonus baby” to play for the Oakland Acorns, a Yankee farm team at the time. An eye injury cut short his baseball career.

After marriage and with two children, he settled in a career as a hairdresser and opened a salon in Los Angeles in the early 60’s. Life happened and career changes brought him to Amarillo, Texas, where he worked with his dear friend, Tony Bandiera, late in the 70’s and where he met the love of his life. John and Jo were married April 24, 1978. Their daughter, Bobbi Jo, was born the following year. The family moved to Plano, Texas, in 1984, where John continued as a salesman for home improvements and eventually as a mortgage loan officer. In later years he worked at Macy’s, Dillards and Ashley Furniture. He was a career salesman through and through.

He was a lifelong lover of sports, his family, and his friends. He was a diehard Dodger and Ram fan. He spent much of his spare time coaching his kids and grandkids in sports and anything that kept them thriving and active. John adored all his children and grandchildren and loved to joke and kid around with them. He loved attending their sporting and school activities and all the family gatherings throughout the years. He took pride in all his children and grandchildren. He was fortunate to have grandchildren with him in his last days. Additionally, his faith was important to him, and he rarely missed attending services even when traveling. He was a member of St. Mark’s Catholic Church in Plano.

He will be loved and cherished always and will be missed dearly by all who knew him.

He was preceded in death by Barbara Jackie Cameron (mother), John Madison Whitley (father), Kenneth Rimbach (stepfather), and Jack McDermott (stepfather).

He is survived by Jo Nell Whitley (wife), John Joseph Henderson, Steven Edward Whitley, Jaimie Jo Wilson, Daniel Wray Ferguson, Aimie Alane Ingersoll, Bobbi Jo Whitley, 14 grandchildren and 9 great-grandchildren.