Obituary - David Whalen
David Whalen, 79, of Henrico, Virginia, passed away peacefully on August 22, 2026.
Born in Newfoundland on April 7, 1947, David was the son of the late Wesley and Olive Whalen.
He leaves to mourn his children, Lori Moss Scaparo (Mark) and David Whalen (Karen), and his grandchildren, Ryan, Olivia, Daniel, and Katelyn, as well as many beloved step-grandchildren.
He will also be deeply missed by his sister, Linda Woodman (Bob); his brother, Ken Whalen (Diane); his aunt, Ruby Whelan, with whom he shared a particularly close bond; Joyce (Lloyd), mother of his children; and a large extended family in Newfoundland, Virginia, and elsewhere.
Through his marriage to Karen, David was also part of a large blended family that included her daughters Becky Shook, Melissa Pardo (Jessie), and Lisa Hernandez Nieves (Jose) and their families.
David was predeceased by his wife, Karen Atkinson Whalen; his parents, Wesley and Olive Whalen; and his brothers, Frederick Whalen, who died in infancy, and Graham Whalen.
David’s working life reflected his intellectual range. With a Bachelor of Commerce degree and a minor in computer science—an unusual combination at the time—he spent his early career moving between finance, accounting, industrial controls, and computers. His work eventually took him from Newfoundland to Virginia, where he found the country and culture he had long known through the music he loved. Later, he began a new chapter in the grocery industry, where his natural gift with people came to the forefront. As a customer service manager, he was often entrusted with sensitive workplace matters, valued for his calm, fairness, and ability to understand the people involved.
What people valued most in David was the way he understood them.
He had an extraordinary ability to see the world through another person’s eyes. Drawing on a lifetime of experience, he could offer perspective without imposing his own, helping them see more clearly what was right for them. He listened carefully, understood what mattered to the person in front of him, and had a way of bringing clarity to circumstances that could otherwise feel overwhelming.
In moments of uncertainty, stress, or crisis, family, friends, and coworkers instinctively turned to David. People trusted him quickly and deeply, knowing they would be heard, understood, and met with a steady hand. When someone worried that they were asking too much of him, his response was characteristically simple: “That’s okay, we’ll figure it out.”
For many who knew him, there are stories of moments when David was simply there when he was needed most. His empathy, quiet reassurance, and willingness to help left people feeling that whatever they were facing was something they could get through. That sense of trust and safety will be among the things remembered most deeply by those whose lives he touched.
Family and friends are invited to gather at Bennett Funeral Home, West Chapel, on Saturday, September 19, 2026. Visitation will begin at 11:00 a.m., with a memorial service at noon. Interment will follow at Woodland Cemetery in Ashland, Virginia.
In keeping with David’s wishes, those wishing to make a memorial donation may do so to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
