Ethel Marie (Swihart) Whaley, 80, life-long Plymouth resident, passed away peacefully Thursday, April 12, 2018 at Miller’s Merry Manor in Warsaw.
Ethel was born February 10, 1938 in Plymouth to the late Sumner and Clara (Graves) Swihart.
She married William Arlen Whaley on June 27, 1954 in Plymouth; and he survives.
Ethel worked from 1979 until retirement in 1994 from the Grace Baptist Christian School as a librarian.
Surviving is her husband; William Arlen Whaley of Warsaw and formerly a life-long resident of Plymouth, and their eight children; Rose (Dennis) McGrew of Plymouth, Tamra Helm of Mishawaka, Penny Rhoads of Argos, Douglas (Deb) Whaley of Plymouth, Cindy (Dave) Rabey of Tippecanoe, Jennifer (Rich) Brown of Rochester, James (Gail) Whaley of Rochester, Billie (Clyde) Sexton of Mentone, twenty-five grandchildren, twenty-eight great-grandchildren and three great-great-grandchildren. Also surviving are her siblings; Roy (Diane) Swihart of Plymouth, Irvy Swihart of Florida, Frances Swihart of Plymouth, Mary Blakely of Michigan, Bonnie Oliver of Arkansas, Connie Sterling of Arkansas, and many nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents, four sons-in-law; Ronald Rhoads, Vincent Helm, James Lawrence Stoops, Robert Donald Pranger Jr., a great-grandson; Aaron Tracy Eckman III, one sister; Eva Dunn, four brothers; Donald, Paul, Ray and Robert Swihart.
Visitation will be from 11-1 PM Tuesday, April 17, 2018 in the Johnson-Danielson Funeral Home, 1100 North Michigan Street, Plymouth. Funeral services will follow at 1:00 PM with Pastor Richard VanVuren officiating with her grandson; Aaron Tracy Eckman II, reading a Scripture. Burial will follow in the New Oak Hill Cemetery.
Memorial contributions can be made to the American Cancer Society, 130 Red Coach Drive, Mishawaka, Indiana 46544.