Patricia J. Whaley, 88, of Bluffton, passed away Tuesday afternoon, April 21, 2015, at her residence. She was born on March 1, 1927, in Rensselaer, IN, to Grady Wilbanks and Helen (Hardy) Callander. She married Lawrence Louis Whaley on June 21, 1947, in Jasper County; he preceded her in death in 1991. She attended Ball State University for one year before her marriage and later received her Bachelor's degree from St. Jospeh's College in Rensselaer, graduating in 1961 as one of the first three women to graduate from the formerly male-only school. She later received her Master's degree from Indiana State. As a 5th and 6th grade teacher at Morocco Elementary in Newton County, she retired after 22 years of service. She was a major proponent of computer programming at an early stage and personally purchased computers for her classrooms when the local school board viewed computers as a "passing fad". After her retirement and moving to Wells County, IN, she worked for Bi-County Services for 8 years as a residential trainer. She was an avid gardener, reader, personal journalist, sports enthusiast (player, coach, and spectator), and naturist ((loved state parks, and anything nature-related). She loved to travel: as recently as February she drove to Florida to visit her daughter and stayed for a month. She had a very spiritual nature. Her devotion to all generations of family will be her continuing legacy. Survivors include three daughters, Terry Burns and Barbara Whaley of Bluffton, IN, and Karen Whaley of Deerfield Beach, FL; five grandsons, Quenten Tomlin of Lafayette, Bernard Welch of Bluffton, Conor (Nicole) Burns of Bluffton, Morgan Burns of Ann Arbor, MI, and Logan Burns of Ft. Wayne; great grandchildren, Anthony and Ashton Tomlin, McKayla and Cheyenne Welch, Collin Burns; and step-great grandchildren, Tyler and Gabby Godwin. She is also survived by brothers-in-law, Duane Whaley and Richard Walkup of Kentland, IN, several nieces and nephews and three cousins who remained life-long friends, Marcia Gray of Rensselaer, and Ann Bretl and Barbara Parkison of Minnesota. Visitation will be Saturday, April 25, 2015, at the Gerts Funeral Home, 129 East Main St., Brook, IN, from 10:00 AM until 2:00 PM CST. A funeral service will be Saturday, at 3:00 PM CST, at the Mt. Zion United Methodist Church, 11233 S. 500 W., Kentland, IN, with Lori L. Salciunas officiating. Burial will be at Buswell Cemetery in Newton County, IN. Preferred memorials can be given to Mt. Zion United Methodist Church. Goodwin - Cale & Harnish Memorial Chapel has been entrusted with the arrangements.
