Capt. David L. Whitley, a longtime summer resident of West Tisbury, died in the early hours of the morning of Jan. 21 at his home in Cincinnati, Ohio. He was 69. His wife, Joanne, was by his side as was his little dog, Bug.

David was born in New Orleans on the first day of spring to Harold T. Whitley of New Orleans and Anita Colbert of Ackerman, Miss. He spent his early years in New Orleans and continued to have a love for his home town.

His family moved to Jackson, Miss., where David attended Duling School and graduated from Murrah High School. While at Murrah he earned his pilot’s license, flying as a cadet officer with the Civil Air Patrol.

In 1960 he received an appointment to the United States Air Force Academy at Colorado Springs. After two years there, he entered the University of Mississippi, where he graduated.

After Ole Miss he went into the Air Force, flying for the Military Air Command. He then married Linda McCormick of Forest, Miss. The marriage ended in divorce.

In 1969 he went to work for Delta Air Lines, where he met Joanne Brennan of Miami. They were wed in New Orleans in 1976 and lived there for many years, enjoying restoring and living in old houses.

In 1979 they found a little piece of land across from Nip ’n’ Tuck Farm and had a house built, which has been a refuge for them through the years. David could always be found in his garage tinkering with his Vespa scooter, or at the airport checking on his Twin Comanche. When he retired from Delta at the mandatory age of 60, he had logged over 30,000 hours in the air, including flying MD11s intercontinentally. He continued to fly privately, with his wife and dog always on board.

He is survived by his loving wife of 36 years, Joanne Brennan Whitley; his brothers, Donald F. Whitley of Denver and Robert S. Whitley of Jackson, Miss. and his sister, Anita C. Moynihan of Delray Beach, Fla., as well as many nieces and nephews.

Interment will be private.

Donations in David’s name may be made to the Southern Poverty Law Center, 400 Washington Ave., Montgomery, Al. 36104.

Arrangements are under the care of Fares J. Radel in Cincinnati.