Fred Whobrey Obituary

Fred Whobrey, Jr., 52 passed away peacefully in his home on Friday, April 11, 2014, after a 2 year battle with bile duct cancer.

He was born on December 2, 1961 in Norfolk, Virginia to Fred and Sandra Whobrey. Fred was a graduate of Mt. Zion High School and Baptist Bible College, Springfield, Missouri. He was a Youth Pastor in Tampa, Florida for a Baptist church until he served in the U.S. Navy as a cryptographer for over 2 years. After leaving the Navy, he moved to Colorado Springs where he started his own house framing business. In 2007, he attended the Le Cordon Bleu Culinary School in London, where he obtained a Diploma in Patisserie. It was there that he met his wife, Yet Chai and they married in July 2012. They moved to Houston, Texas to facilitate his treatments at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston.

Fred was an avid outdoorsman and enjoyed target shooting, the rodeo, mountain climbing, riding his 4-wheelers, motorcycles and jet skies, camping and boating. A self professed adrenaline junkie, he was a professional rodeo clown for a brief period while living in Colorado Springs. Fred had a great appreciation of classic cars and was also a big fan of Country Music, Elvis and Frank Sinatra.

Fred lived life to its fullest and traveled the world. He rode his motorbike across Europe in 2007. From 2008 to 2010, he visited Hong Kong, China, Vietnam, Thailand, Myanmar, Malaysia, Singapore, Borneo and Australia.

In August 2013, despite over 20 rounds of chemotherapy, he climbed Pyramid Peak in Aspen, Colorado. Pyramid Peak is a 14,000 foot mountain, with a very steep incline, gaining over 4,000 feet in less than 1.2 miles. It has one of the most difficult routes among the Fourteeners (14,000 feet mountains). Pyramid Peak poses a challenge for those in good health and one can only imagine how Fred climbed it, being so compromised by cancer and chemotherapies. Fred had an indomitable spirit with a love for challenges and possessed a basic instinct to fight until the last breath. He was a fiercely loyal friend who loved his family and friends with all his heart. His close friends describe him as someone whom you could rely on when your chips are seriously down and never asked for any favors in return.

Fred is survived by his wife, son, father, 2 brothers and 2 doggies. His mother preceded him in death.

Being a person who loved life and probably did more than anyone could have done in several life spans, it was Fred's wish for close friends and family to celebrate his life and not mourn his death. A gathering for family and friends will be held at noon on Sunday, April 27th, 2014 at 4235 Hammers Ranch Road, Colorado Springs, CO 80929.

Thanks to the staff at M.D. Anderson, Houston, Texas for their help and support, especially to Dr Filip Janku and his team. A special thanks to all of Fred's friends and family, who traveled to see him when he was diagnosed with terminal cancer.