Edward L. Whalen

Edward L. Whalen was born in Terre Haute, Indiana on November 24, 1936.  He died 30,095 days later in Austin, Texas with his wife, son, daughter and caregiver by his bedside on April 18, 2019.

He was the firstborn son of Louise Agatha (Roach) Whalen and Edward Joseph Whalen.  In 1958, Ed received his baccalaureate degree in economics cum laude from Indiana University Bloomington, where he had served as student body president.  He married Joan Erickson in 1959.  He received his doctorate in philosophy (economics) from Princeton University in 1964.

Upon graduation from Indiana University he served in the United States Army Reserve and after completing his military obligation resigned his commission as captain.  After graduation from Princeton, he became a member of the Department of Economics at Indiana University where he spent 30 years teaching and contributing to the professional literature as well as acting as a consultant for the Agency for International Development and the Bureau of the Budget in Washington, D.C.  In addition to his duties as a faculty member he served as Indiana University’s budget director for 20 years.

Ed and Joan moved to Houston in 1990 after he accepted the invitation to become the Vice Chancellor for Administration and Finance for the University of Houston System.  Following retirement he served as a consultant for the National Association of College and University Business Officers and a number of colleges and universities

In the course of his career, he was a member of the Houston Chapter of Financial Executives International, the Indiana University Alumni Association, Phi Beta Kappa, the American Economic Association, American Finance Association, American Statistical Association, and American Association of University Professors.  He served as a member of the board of directors of the Indiana University Employees Federal Credit Union, Stages Repertory Theater in Houston, the Friends of Fondren Library of Rice University, and the 5000 Montrose Council of Co-Owners.  He received the Sagamore of the Wabash award from Indiana governor Evan Bayh in 1990.

Ed and Joan attended Mass at the Chapel of St. Basil on the University of Saint Thomas campus in Houston where they have many close friends.

Ed is survived by his wife of over 59 years, Joan Erickson Whalen; his son, his daughter, his younger brother and his brother-in-law and their spouses; five grandchildren; three nephews and a niece and their spouses; and one grandnephew and one grandniece.

The family wishes to express their deep gratitude to Ian Banda, Esphan Nganga and Benard Ndua who provided loving care and support during Ed’s final nine months of life.

A funeral Mass will be held at St Benedict Catholic Church, 111 South 9th Street, Terre Haute, Indiana on Thursday, April 25th at 12:05pm.  Visitation will begin at the church at 11am before Mass.  Interment will follow the mass at Calvary Cemetery that same day.  There will be a gathering at M. Mogger's Restaurant & Pub, 908 Poplar Street, Terre Haute following the burial.  Family and friends are invited to attend the day’s events.

Samaritan Funeral Home was entrusted with arrangements.  Online condolences may be made to www.samaritanfunerals.com.  In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to St. Benedict’s Catholic Church on their website: https://stbenedictth.org/ or mailed to: Church of St. Benedict; 111 S 9th Street; Terre Haute, IN 47807; or to the Indiana University Foundation on their website: https://www.myiu.org/one-time-gift or mailed to: Indiana University Foundation; Post Office Box 6460; Indianapolis, IN 46206-6460.

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