Ralph Leroy Whalen Jr.

Ralph L. Whalen, Jr. died on October 7, 2011 at UVA Medical Center. He was born on May 19, 1926 in Washington, DC. He served in the Navy during WWII in the Pacific theatre aboard the USS Texas as a radioman. He participated in the battles of Iwo Jima and Okinawa. He retired from NIST (former National Bureau of Standards) in 1983. He loved spending time in his machine shop, working in his vegetable garden and spending time with his family, animals and music. He retired to Culpeper in 1987. He was an active member in the United Methodist Church Men’s Group and the Culpeper Radio Club.

He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Mary Pruett Whalen; a son Ralph L. Whalen, III and his wife Susan of Germantown, Maryland; a daughter, Mary Belinda Berry of Culpeper, VA and granddaughters Jennifer Whalen, Cindy Whalen and Savannah Berry. He is also survived by a niece, Sandra Bradford and a sister, Betty Bannar.

Funeral services will be held Friday, October 14, 2011 at 11:00 a.m., in the Culpeper United Methodist Church, Culpeper, VA with Rev. Randy Orndorff conducting the service. Interment will be in the Culpeper National Cemetery with military honors provided by the American Legion and V.F.W. Post 2524 Honor Guards.

The family will receive friends Thursday, Oct. 13, 2011 from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. at Clore-English Funeral Home.

In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to Wounded Warrior 920 - S107th Ave, Suite 250, Omaha, Nebraska 68114, Culpeper United Methodist Church Music Department, 1233 Oaklawn Drive, Culpeper, VA 22701 or to the Humane Society of Culpeper, P.O. Box 1224 , Culpeper, VA 22701.

Arrangements have been entrusted to the Clore-English Funeral Home, 11190 James Monroe Highway, Culpeper, VA 22701.