John Wesley Whalen Jr., of Richmond, Indiana, died Tuesday (February 7, 2006) at the age of 80 after a brief illness.
He was born Dec. 6, 1925 in Richmond, Indiana. He enlisted in the Navy at 17 and was a WWII veteran as an aviation radioman. Upon returning from the war, he worked while finishing his high school education graduating from Richmond High School in 1944. He also graduated from Richmond Business College in 1947. John Whalen spent most of his career as a Real Estate Broker and owned his own agency for many years. His other occupations included chef, greenhouse construction foreman, master electrician with Richmond Power and Light and City Councilman. He was an avid Bridge Player and community volunteer. He has been a member of the American Legion Post, where his father and son John were once members.
He is survived by two daughters Sara Elizabeth Whalen (Corpus Christi, TX) and Jennifer Lee Wipfli (Anaheim, CA), son John W. Whalen III (Augusta, KY), very special friend Betty Lou Wall (Richmond, IN), two granddaughters Katherine Elizabeth Whalen (Fairfield, OH) and Melissa Renee Hail (Cincinnati, OH) and a sister Ruth West (Richmond, IN). He is also survived by great granddaughter Olivia Gabrielle Hail and great grandson Dakota Reed Hail (Cincinnati, OH). He is preceded in death by his son Jonathon Scott Whalen, sister Barbara Jean Smith and brother Paul Whalen.
There are no services or visitation planned.
Burial will be at 11:30 am on Saturday (February 11, 2006) in Glen Haven Memorial Gardens
Memorial contributions in lieu of flowers are suggested to The Richmond Senior Community Center (1600 South 2nd Richmond, IN), The Salvation Army (707 South A St. Richmond, IN), or Paralyzed Veterans of America (7 Mill Brook Road, Walton, NH, 03086-0923).
Riggle - Waltermann Mortuary is in charge of arrangements. www.riggle-waltermann.com