Erma Gladine Whalen was born in Steelville, MO on October 24, 1922 to Addie Mae Halbert Whalen and Guy F. Whalen and went to be with the Lord on Thursday, January 17, 2013.

Erma joined the Steelville First Baptist Church at a very young age. She was very dedicated to her church and her Baptist faith throughout her life. She attended grade school and high school in Steelville. She graduated from high school in the spring of 1940. She worked as a secretary for Raymond Rogers Insurance Company and then as a clerk at the First National Bank in Steelville. She always wanted to go to college, so in January of 1951, she went to Hannibal, MO and enrolled in Hannibal-LaGrange College which was a Baptist college. She completed her college degree. After graduating from college, she worked as a secretary to the college until she accepted a secretarial position at a large Baptist church in Murray, KY. It wasn't very long at Murray until Hannibal-LaGrange contacted her and asked if she would like to return as manager of the book store. She accepted the position and worked there until she decided to go back to Steelville and live with her mother who was growing older and needed care. After her mother passed away, the home place was sold and Erma moved to St. James, MO and lived there until she began to have problems herself as she was developing Alzheimer's disease. She was taken to the Steelville nursing home and later moved to a nursing home in Sullivan, so her brother Pat could look after her needs.

She leaves behind her two brothers, Pat Whalen and wife Norma of Sullivan, MO and Harry F. Whalen and wife Hilda of Bella Vista, AR; two nieces, Judith Ann Copeland and husband Larry and Dawn Michelle Milheiser and husband Dan; three nephews Patrick L. Whalen, Michael Whalen and wife Marsha and Jerry Whalen and wife Vivian; other relatives and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents; and one sister, Henrietta Irene Whalen.

The Family received friends from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Friday, January 18, 2013 at the Britton-Bennett Funeral Home in Steelville, MO.

Funeral services were held at 11:00 on Saturday, January 19, 2013 at the Britton-Bennett Funeral Home in Steelville, MO with Rev. Kevin Farr officiating and closing prayer by Rev. Bud Sanders.  Special music of "Amazing Grace" and "Precious Memories" was played.

Committal prayer and burial were in the Steelville Cemetery.

Honored to be casket bearers were Larry Copeland, Mike Whalen, Lynn Whalen, Jerry Whalen, Ken Halbert and Bro. Kevin Farr.

The Family was served by the Britton-Bennett Funeral Home of Steelville, MO.