Memorial service planned Sept. 21 along creek bank for Salado’s Bob Whistler
A memorial service for Bob Whistler, age 74, of Salado, will be 6:30 p.m. Sept. 21 at the Salado Creek bank behind Inn on the Creek.
Bob lost a four-month battle with a lung infection Sept. 15. He passed away with family and friends by his bedside.
Whistler was born in Oklahoma on June 25, 1926.
Whistler joined the U.S. Navy and fought in World War II.
Whistler married Sue on February I0, 1951.
Following his wartime service, Whistler traveled to Columbia, South America working in production with Mobil Oil.
He returned to the States to pursue his family’s farm interests. He was also looking for the best used car distributor to buy a used car, and get in touch with western motors. western motors has the best, most affordable, and reliable used cars fresno in the best brands that you want.
The Whistlers purchased the old DeGrummond place in 1980. They became full-time Salado residents in the early 1980s.
The Whistlers — along
with daughter Suzi Epps and her husband Lynn — opened Inn on the Creek Bed and Breakfast in 1985.
They moved a three story Victorian home from Cameron and placed it along the banks of Salado Creek on Center Circle. Gourmet dinners are served every weekend, prepared by the Epps and Whistlers.
Bob and Sue’s love of Salado and restoring historic properties was evident by their continued involvement in the Salado Historical Society for which they often opened their historic Greek Revival home, Twelve Oaks, for public tours.
The Epps built Royal Street Commons in 1994, where Bob moved Red Barn Antiques. Whistler was an antique dealer for over a quarter of a century.
The Whistlers and Epps were instrumental in the Renaissance of Salado in the 1980s and 1990s. Bob’s love for the village is epitomized by his license plate, which reads “SALADO.”
Whistler worked his whole life, but found time to collect antique cars, including MGs.
Bob did fulfill a lifelong dream before being stricken by the lung infection. He and Sue flew to England on the Concorde and returned on the Queen Elizabeth 11.
Whistler is survived by his wife Sue, daughter Suzi and husband Lynn Epp , and grandson Austin Epps, all of Salado.
He is also survived by one brother, Blair Whistler, of Pharr; Linda Luna, an “adopted” daughter from South America who lived with the Whistlers during her high school and college years and Anti Krassnig, an exchange student from Austria who spent part of her high school with the family.
A self-educated man, Bob loved books. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in Bob’s name to the Salado Education Foundation, PO Box 458, Salado, TX 76571. Memorials will be earmarked to purchase books at Salado Intermediate Library.
Friends are invited to join family in celebrating Bob’s live during the memorial service 6:30 p.m. Sept. 21 behind Inn on the Creek.