Thomas J. Whalen Jr., 70, of Meadville, died at home surrounded by his loving family, Monday, Oct. 20, 2014, following a 15-year courageous battle with ocular melanoma. He was one of the longest survivors of this type of cancer. He was born in Baltimore, Md., on Dec. 4, 1943, a son of Thomas J. Whalen Sr. and Helen Marie Woodburn Whalen Cropp. He married Karen Hall on Oct. 31, 1970, and she survives. He was a 1963 graduate of Meadville High School and was a veteran of the Vietnam war, serving in the U.S. Navy from 1963 to 1973 on board the submarines USS Tench, Benjamin Franklin and Lapon. He worked as a foreman for DIC Tool, then for C & J Industries and finally as a case worker at the Public Assistance Office in Meadville, retiring in 2003. He loved baseball, football and coaching and mentoring children. He was a coach for both Vernon Baseball and Little Gridders Football. For the past several years, he announced all the Little Gridder Football games. He was a member of American Legion Post 639, Springfield, Mo., and was active at the Requin Sub Base, Pittsburgh. He was also an avid Pittsburgh Pirates, Steelers and Notre Dame fan. He also enjoyed his flowers, the birds and going to Presque Isle Downs Casino. Survivors, in addition to his wife, Karen, of 44 years, include a son, Thomas J. Whalen III and his wife, Jessica, of Saegertown; two granddaughters, Alyssa and Erica Whalen; his mother, Helen Marie Cropp of Meadville; a brother, Jim Whalen of Meadville; a niece, Kimberly Curnutt of Meadville; and a nephew, Ryan Whalen of Phoenix, Ariz. He was preceded in death by his father. Calling hours will be Wednesday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. at Robert W. Waid Funeral Home Inc., 581 Chestnut St., Meadville. The funeral service will be Thursday at 11 a.m. at the funeral home, with the Rev. Sarah Roncolato, pastor of Stone United Methodist Church, officiating. Interment, with military honors provided by Huidekoper Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2006, will be in Greendale Cemetery. The family suggests memorials to Hospice of Crawford County, 464 Pine St., Meadville, Pa. 16335; or the American Cancer Society, 505 Poplar St., Suite 310, Meadville, Pa. 16335. Memories and condolences may be shared at waidfuneralhome.net.