Richard Kenneth Whitely

Richard Kenneth Whitely, 72, of Summerville, South Carolina, died on August 6, 2023, after a brief, courageous battle with lung cancer. He passed peacefully, at home, without pain. Rick is survived by his wife, the former Patricia Baremore, daughter Tina M. Cimino (Scott) of Sparks, MD, mother Lorraine M. Whitely, of Joppa, MD, brother Christopher C. Whitely (Jeanne), of Hernando Beach, FL, sisters Adrienne J. Brown (James Augustowski) of Kingsville, MD, Mary Carol DeVilbiss (Francis) of Nottingham, MD, and Susan H. Pazdersky (Donald) of Joppa, MD, grandsons Aiden R. Cimino and Daxton R. Cimino of Sparks, MD, stepson Sean Baremore of Lakeside, CA, stepdaughter Christine Calhoun and step grandchildren Kathryn M. Whitney, Eric M. Calhoun of Battle Creek, MI and Camryn J. Baremore of Lakeside, CA and step great granddaughters, Haidyn and Charlotte Whitney of Battle Creek, MI. In addition, there are his aunt, Lydia P. Aquino of Joppatowne, MD, uncle, Lawrence Maloy, of Bel Air, MD, numerous nieces and nephews, and many dear, lifelong friends and band members. Rick was pre-deceased by his father, Richard J. Whitely, and grandparents Carroll F. and Helen I. Whitely, Harold Braun and Josephine J. Pedrolini, aunts, Marlene Golumbek and Tracy Maloy, and uncle, Alphonse Golumbek. 
 
Rick was born in Baltimore, Maryland, on June 28, 1951, the older son of Lorraine and Richard Whitely. While a youngster, Rick served as an altar boy at Mass at St. Michael's Roman Catholic Church. He also attended its Elementary School. He participated in Cub and Boy Scout programs, earning many badges and learning numerous life skills. As a teen, he learned to play guitar, and worked toward Eagle Scout status while still a Boy Scout. After graduating from Overlea Senior High School, in June, 1969, he spent most of his adult life in the Summerville area of South Carolina. His Northern relatives often said that Rick developed a "Southern drawl", owing to his life in, and fondness for, South Carolina.
 
Rick worked for over 30 years in the Construction Industry. He held a variety of positions, from the Journey Level Foreman "hands-on" types of the 1970's, to the proprietorships of the 1980's and 1990's. He excelled in several commercial superintendent positions. Throughout his career, he worked on projects that required Rick to solve complex and theoretical construction problems. He worked for several local construction companies, including Limehouse and Frampton Construction Company and Brantley Construction Company. He oversaw the construction of projects in the Charleston area as well. Some of his favorites were the repair/renewal of the FAA Control Tower at the Charleston Airport, Department of Juvenile Justice Facility in Ridgeville, South Coast Community Bank, Waterfront Park by the South Carolina Aquarium, and many other large commercial type projects over the years.
 
Rick also formed his own sole proprietorship business (R-K Specialties), as a residential repair and remodeling services company as well as a new home construction business. He built and completed over 15 new residential homes. Rick was an adept estimator and planner, as well as a coaching team player on all work projects. He built solid, knowledgeable, and trustworthy relationships with his many clients, employees, suppliers, supervisors, and others which won him the respect of those who worked with and/or for him. More recently, Rick designed, constructed, and sold children's wooden toys under the website "Grandpa Rick's Toys". These beautiful heirlooms are prized by collectors and owners.
 
Over the years, Rick pursued many various hobbies, fishing, crabbing, shrimping, and flying remote control airplanes, trap and skeet shooting, etc. But most notable was his music. He played bass guitar, rhythm guitar, piano, and, sometimes, the organ. Rick was associated with the establishment of the "Scotchgrains" while still in High School, and, later, "Slawd". Rick became a bit of an urban legend, traveling around in the former "Tip Top Bread Truck", which ultimately was transformed as "Slawd's" band mobile. In the era of 8-track tape players, Rick was easily known to be enroute, owing to the volume of "Led Zeppelin's" latest album playing, with the truck's doors wide open. After moving to the South, Rick preferred to play bass guitar. Fans may recall his performances in "Slash", "Edge", "DeadOnTime", "Railgun", "526", and many others over his 50-plus years in the music industry. At the time of his passing, Rick had been composing and recording his 2nd album. Music was his first love, and no matter which other hobby he pursued, he always returned to those musical notes.
 
A celebration of life/memorial will be held on October 21, 2023, in Sparks/Hunt Valley, Maryland. Those present will certainly talk about happy memories of Rick, his music, and his impressive guitar collection, while honoring his "bigger-than-life" personality.