William J. "Bill" Whalen Sr.

WHALEN, William J. "Bill" Sr., 83, formerly of Hershey, Pa., and Florida, passed away Friday January 13, 2006, in Harrisburg, Pa. He was a retired Penn- sylvania State employee and a World War II Army veteran. After he retired, Mr. Whalen was a mailroom supervisor for the Pennsylvania State Senate during the 1980s. Prior to that, he and his wife owned the Palm Motel in Hershey. He was self-employed most of his life and that continued into his second retirement in Florida, where he was known as the "Shirt Man" to many fire fighters who relied on him for their embroidered casual shirts and caps. Mr. Whalen was born June 16, 1922, in Mahonoy Plane, Pa., to proud parents Joseph and Mary "Mame" (Flannery) WHalen. He was the youngest of six children, all of whom predeceased him. He served in the U.S. Army during World War II with the 17th Airborne Division and participated in Operation Varsity shortly after the Battle of the Bulge. When their glider plane went off course and landed behind enemy li nes, the entire patrol was captured by the German army. Bill was able to administer life-saving first aid to his badly wounded lieutenant and then surrender to the English-speaking German officer. They were able to leave the wounded lieutenant at a hospital before being marched to a prisoner of war camp, where he and his patrol remained until the end of the war. He brought his family to Hershey in the early 1950s and was very active in the Knights of Columbus Council 869, Harrisburg. He was a 4th degree member of Bishop Shannahan Assembly, a past commander of Hershey American Legion, and a former member of Hershey Veterans of Foreign Wars and Hershey Italian Lodge. Bill and his wife were active lifetime members of the 17th Airborne Division Association. He also was involved in local politics. Survivors include his wife of 63 years, Mary C. (Gelbuda) Whalen, formerly of Girardville, Pa.; four sons, William J. "Bill" Whalen Jr. of Hershey, Ron Whalen and his wife, Marcia, of Harrisburg, Charle s Whalen of Virginia and Robert "Bob" Whalen of Harrisburg; eight grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; and 12 well loved nieces and nephews. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated Thursday, January 19, 2006, at St. Joan of Arc Roman Catholic Church in Hershey. Interment will be at Indiantown Gap National Cemetery. Viewing will be 10-11 a.m. Thursday at the church. In lieu of flowers, the family prefers memorial contributions be made to Heart of the Parish Fund, c/o St. Joan of Arc Roman Catholic Church, 359 W. Areba Ave., Hershey, PA 17033. Hoover Funeral Home & Crematory in Hershey is handling the arrangements. Please view the online guestbook at http://www.hooverfuneralhome.com