Fred A. Whalen

Fred A. Whalen, beloved husband, father, grandfather and friend passed away Monday, March 24, 2014. He was born in Sault Ste Marie, Ontario, Canada. He began working as a teenager in a local hardware store and became an accomplished carpenter. He later worked at the Abitibi Power and Paper Company as a stationary engineer. Fred met the love of his life, Vivian Finch, as she nursed him back to health while recuperating from a burst appendix. They were married Sept. 25, 1948, and celebrated their 65th anniversary in 2013. Together they moved to Clearwater, Fla., and purchased the Edgewater Drive Motel in the late fifties. With the help of his business partner and friend, Ashton Roper, he transformed the little motel into five apartments, and twenty-four units with an attached coffee shop where he served up the best pancakes in town. He enjoyed talking with his guests in the office over a cup of coffee, putting on a party for them under the oak trees, building and fixing things in his shop, and watching the sun set over the bay each night. After 47 years he sold the motel and moved to Crystal River, where he enjoyed working on his antique cars, taking his grandson on the river and watching the manatees play. Fred was known for his hard work, generosity, and the friendships he made. He loved his family and was the happiest when they were all together.
He is survived by his wife, Vivian; son, John; daughter, Kim and grandson, Sean.
The family will receive friends at Strickland Funeral Home, Crystal River, from 10 to 11 a.m. Saturday, March 29, 2014, with services starting at 11 a.m. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of Citrus County, PO Box 641270, Beverly Hills, FL 34464.