Whalen

Wilbert S. “Sonny” Whalen, of Saxonburg, left this earth to be with his heavenly Father on Jan. 29, 2023.

He was born March 16, 1934, in Pittsburgh, the son of Wilbert J. and Eleanor A. (Naser) Whalen.

Sonny graduated from Central Catholic High School in Pittsburgh in 1952.

He married Joan B. Lagorio in June of 1953, and they were about to celebrate 70 years of marriage.

He enjoyed the outdoors, hunting and fishing, raising tropical fish, and growing a variety of flowers, particularly orchids. He also enjoyed model train and airplane building. He worked as a greens keeper and designed Mars-Bethel Golf Course during construction.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a granddaughter, Jessica Whalen; and a son-in-law, Hugh Kirkman.

He is survived by his wife; and a sister, Gertrude A. Jackson of Florida.

He is also survived by his seven children, his daughters, Patricia Campbell and her husband, Donald, of Cochranton, Phyllis (Miller) Kirkman of Hubert, N.C., Rosemarie Whalen of Gibsonia, and Teresa Whalen of Tarentum, and his sons, Thomas Whalen and his wife, Marletta, of Maysville, Ga., David Whalen and his wife, Cynthia, of Flocktown, N.J., and Stephen Whalen and his wife, Kristen, of Hubert, N.C.

In addition, he is survived by 15 grandchildren, Keith Campbell, Jason Campbell, Neil Miller, Bryan Miller, Joseph Miller, Kevin Miller, Heather Parrott, Melanie Whalen, Sara DeCubellis, Matthew Whalen, Johnathan Whalen, Francis Whalen, Albert Whalen, Emily Whalen and Maggie Whalen; 12 great-grandchildren; his niece, Kelley Jackson; and his nephew, Edward Jackson.

WHALEN — Friends of Wilbert S. “Sonny” Whalen, who died Sunday, Jan. 29, 2023, will be received from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday at FOX FUNERAL HOME, 410 W. Main St., Saxonburg.

A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Friday at St. Francis of Assisi Parish-St. Joseph Church in Cabot, with Father James Kurtz officiating.

Interment will follow in Holy Savior Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Saxonburg Volunteer Fire Company, or the Saxonburg Ambulance Service.

For more information, please visit www.foxfuneralhomeinc.com.

Please sign the guest book at www.butlereagle.com.