Robert Whalen

Mr. Robert W. "Bob" Whalen, 85, Crawfordsville, passed away Tuesday, February 12, at 2:47 PM, in the Lane House Nursing Home. Bob was born August 7, 1927, in Goshen, Indiana, to W. W. and Edna (McVey) Whalen. He moved to Crawfordsville a few month before his 5th birthday. He married Margaret Ann Sherrill, July 25, 1948, in Crawfordsville. She preceded him in death December 29, 2005.

Mr. Whalen retired from RR Donnelleys in 1987 where he had been a pressman and had worked in the Billing Department. He was a 1945 graduate of Crawfordsville High School; attended Wabash College for one year; was a faithful member of the First Christian Church of Crawfordsville, where he served as a Deacon; and worked with the Crawfordsville Youth Baseball and Boy Scouts for many years. He was well known in Montgomery County as a Founding Member and the first President of the Montgomery County Basketball Hall of Fame. He was also well known as a basketball historian for Crawfordsville, Montgomery County, and Wabash College sports. He had written over 200 articles, mostly on basketball. He wrote for The Montgomery Magazine; The Weekly; The Journal & Review; The Paper; The Sports Report; The Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame; The Indiana High School Basketball Historical Society; and the Montgomery County Basketball Hall of Fame, Inc. Newsletter.

He is survived by his children: Jerry (Sue) Whalen, Crawfordsville; and Linda (Mike) Goda, Fontanet, Indiana. Also surviving are grandchildren: Scott (Carrie) Whalen, New Albany; Beth (Brad) Tharp, Crawfordsville; Mark (Aletia) Whalen, Fishers; Pete (Suzi) Goda, Fontanet; and Mary (Eric) Graves, Terre Haute; and 11 great grandchildren. In addition to his wife, he was preceded in death by his parents; brothers: Kenneth and W. Keith Whalen.

Funeral services will be held on Friday, February 15, at 11:00 AM, at Powers-Priebe Funeral Home, with Rev. Keith Strain officiating. Entombment will be in the Oak Hill North Cemetery Mausoleum. Friends may call at the funeral home on Friday from 10:00 AM until 11:00 AM. Memorials may be sent to: The Montgomery County Basketball Hall of Fame, c/o Bev Harpel, 3923 W. Arrowhead Dr., Crawfordsville, IN 47933 or: The First Christian Church, 211 S. Walnut, Crawfordsville, IN 47933.