Shirley A. Whalen-Bacon, 77, 23 Year Veteran Of The U.S. Air Force

She was born July 16, 1928 in Lorain and had been a resident of Sandusky since 2001.

Ms. Whalen-Bacon was a graduate of Lorain High School and went on to attend The Ohio State University. She enlisted in the United States Air Force in 1951 and embarked on a military career that spanned almost a quarter century. She attained the rank of Technical Sergeant and served as a flight attendant completing service assignments in Korea and later in Southeast Asia. Much of her duty time was spent escorting the remains of fallen American soldiers back to the United States for burial. It is estimated that the air miles she logged during her military career were equal to ten trips around the world. She retired from the military in 1974 and established residences in Hawaii and California before returning to northern Ohio.

Shirley was a parishioner of Saint Mary of the Lake Catholic Church in Lorain and was also a member of the Ladies Red Hat Society at the Ohio Veterans Home. She enjoyed attending theatrical performances and was a fan of the opera.

She is survived by a sister Maryellen Mihajlovich residing in Tellico Plains, Tennessee, along with two nieces, one nephew, and a variety of great nieces and great nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents Clair E. and Julia (nee Winston) Whalen.

Visitation will be Monday, September 19, 2005, from 6 to 8 p.m. in the Gluvna-Shimo-Hromada Funeral Chapel – 3224 Broadway – Lorain. Family and friends are asked to gather Wednesday at 10:00 a.m. in Saint Mary of the Lake Catholic Church – 310 8th Street – Lorain for the celebration of her funeral mass. The Reverend Daniel O. Divis, pastor of Saint Mary Parish will officiate. Burial will follow in Calvary Cemetery – Lorain where full military honors will be conducted by officers and members of Louis Paul Proy Chapter # 20 of the Disabled American Veterans.