Ada Christine Whalen

WHALEN, Ada Christine "Chris," age 90, went home to meet the Lord January 28, 2016. She was a resident of Lakewood Manor Baptist Retirement Community. She was born September 16, 1925 in Arcadia, Va., near Roanoke. Chris was the daughter of John Marshall Markham and Rebecca Whorley Markham. She was born in a log home on the family farm. When she was five years old, her father died and she moved with her family to Richmond. She grew up in Chesterfield County. She is survived by her beloved husband of 69 years, retired Lieutenant Colonel, Thomas Bernard Whalen; three sisters, Hazel Crostic of Chesterfield, Va., Lois Shockley and Vivian Jones of Amelia; special nieces, nephews and cousins.

Chris was a life-long Baptist. She accepted Jesus as her Lord and Savior at the age of 12 in the historic Salem Baptist Church, Chesterfield County. She grew up in Kingsland Baptist Church. She was active in Christian work her entire life. Her love for God, family, church and country motivated her actions and was the primary force in her life. She was blessed with an extraordinary ability to connect with people. This gift served her well throughout life. She was an encourager to many people and loved helping those who were less fortunate. Her greeting card ministry and Bible tract ministry at Ft. Lee, and many other places, touched the hearts of all who received them.

Chris graduated from Thomas Dale High School, Smithdeal Massey Business College, the National Institute of Real Estate and the Dale Carnegie Institute. She was an accomplished business woman. In 1944, she met handsome Tom, who was in the United States Army, stationed at Camp Pickett. They were married in 1946. Thirty-five years of Army life provided many years of hellos, goodbyes, 30 moves and many happy times. Chris loved Army life and lived in places as diverse as Schofield Barracks, Hawaii, Sendai, Japan and Lima, Peru. Stateside she lived in Massachusetts, New Jersey, Indiana and Washington, D.C. She had many friends worldwide. Chris and Tom lived in Alexandria, Va. for 15 years. She was deeply involved in the life and work of Columbia Baptist Church. She was a volunteer at the Baptist Center in Alexandria, where she worked with young girls. She loved working with home missionaries. She also was a Grey Lady volunteer with the Red Cross at Ft. Belvoir Army Hospital. Chris was a trustee of the Baptist Foreign Mission Board (now International Mission board) from 1969 to 1977. She traveled extensively throughout the world on mission trips to meet missionaries and Christians from other cultures. At the age of 53, she began a successful career in real estate in Old Town Alexandria and later in Richmond, specializing in the sale of residential property. She retired from Pinchbeck Realtors in Chesterfield County. She was a highly respected realtor. Her claim to fame was providing good service. Many of her clients became close, personal friends. She received many awards for her work.

Family and friends will be received on Thursday, February 4, 2016, from 6 to 8 p.m., at the Huguenot Chapel, Woody Funeral Home, 1020 Huguenot Rd., Midlothian, Va. 23113. A memorial service will be held 2 p.m. Friday, February 5, 2016, at Bon Air Baptist Church, 2531 Buford Rd., Richmond, Va. 23235, with a reception following at the church. Graveside services will be held in Arlington National Cemetery at a date and time to be determined. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to the Bible Broadcasting Network (BBN), 11530 Carmel Commons Blvd., Charlotte, N.C. 28226.