Fred J. Whalen

Fred J. Whalen, III, 66, died Tuesday, June 5, 2012. Born in Milford, MA on March 28, 1946, he was the son of the late Frederick Joseph Whalen, Jr. and Ruth Lillian Allen Whalen. Fred was a member of St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church.Fred retired from First Citizens Bank with 40+ years of service. He joined FCB in 1969 and came to Morganton in 1974 to open the initial First Citizens office in Burke County. In 1992, Fred became the original Area Executive of the Burke Area and served in the role until 2008. At the time of his retirement in 2011, he was a Corporate Development Officer.For 16 years, Fred served on the Board of Trustees at Western Piedmont Community College. He served as Chairman of the Board from 1992 until 1994, and was currently serving as Vice Chairman. He was also currently a Chairman of the Finance and Investments Committee.

Fred was an avid golfer for many years and was a former member of Mimosa Hills Golf and Country Club. He loved spending time with family at their home in Little River, SC.Fred is survived by his wife, Tori Bledsoe Whalen of the home; sons, Fred J. Whalen, IV and his wife, Hollis, of Hickory, NC and Jonathan Whalen of Fort Drum, NY; a daughter, Heather Millsaps of Morganton; grandchildren, Hayden, Kathryn, and Ayden Whalen; a brother, Kenneth Whalen and his wife, Diane, of Morganton; and a sister, Brenda Whalen of Morganton.The funeral Mass will be held at 11:00 a.m., Thursday, June 7, 2012 at St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church with Rev. Kenneth Whittington and Pastor Michael F. Riley officiating. Burial will follow in Forest Hill Cemetery. The family will receive friends Wednesday evening from 6:00 until 8:00 p.m. at Sossoman Funeral Home and Crematory Center.Memorial contributions may be made to St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church, 728 W. Union Street, Morganton, NC 28655, Calvary Lutheran Church, 119 N. King Street, Morganton, NC 28655, or to Blue Ridge HealthCare Foundation, Nephrology, 2201 South Sterling Street, Morganton, NC 28655.