Obituary of William P. Whallon, Jr.

William P. Whallon, Jr. (1929-2024) William Prendergast (Bill) Whallon, Jr., proud father of six children, 94, of Sidney, NY passed away August 5, 2024. He was born in Buffalo NY, the son of the late William and Florence Whallon. He is survived by his loving wife of 44 years, Donna Whallon, five daughters: Sally & Bert Finch of Bainbridge, NY; Susan (Suzy) & Jan Rogers of Phoenix, AZ; Sandra (Sandy) and Tom McDermott of Lenoir City, TN; Shirley & Richard Cumm of Masonville, NY; and Stacey & Kevin Hobin of Phoenix, AZ; mother of his children, Patricia Couse of Sierra Vista, AZ, eight grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews. He is predeceased by his infant son, Kurt, and two sisters, Dr. Jane Benson of Bainbridge, NY and Ruth DeWitt of Cleveland, NY. After graduating from Kenmore High School in 1947, Bill attended Purdue University and earned a B.S. degree in Electrical Engineering, graduating in 1951. He then joined the U.S. Navy, with rank of Lieutenant Junior Grade, and was honorably discharged in 1954. Bill retired from Allied Amphenol Products after an inventive and satisfying career. Bill had many life adventures and passions. He was a true outdoorsman, having multiple outback moose hunting excursions in Canada. He enjoyed gentleman farming and sustainable forest harvesting at the Pine Hill family homestead. Anyone that knew Bill well knows he enjoyed sitting at the kitchen table either taking equipment apart and then explaining how it went back together or enthusiastically bantering on the topic of the day with any and all family members and guests present. Besides his family, his biggest passion was downhill skiing. He was an accomplished skier – skiing all over the world, including adventurous backcountry helicopter skiing. He was fortunate to blend this passion with his growing interest in community through volunteering as Captain of the Ski Patrol at the Bobcat Ski Center in Andes, NY for many years. In his retirement, Bill continued contributing to the local community. As a forest landowner, he volunteered with his forest industry comrade, Larry Schaefer, on the NYC Watershed Forest Advisory Board in the development of policy and training protective of water quality and the rural economy. He was also a founding member of Vision 21, an organization which endeavored to update the Master Plan for the tri-towns of Bainbridge, Sidney, Unadilla and later Afton under the name of 4 Towns Forward. If you ever met Bill Whallon, there is no doubt you will have remembered him – he was a force. He will be fondly remembered by family and friends as a loving father, husband, inventor, outdoorsman, mentor, intellectual, conservationist, and community contributor. A Celebration of Life will be scheduled at a later date. In lieu of flowers, you may honor Bill's memory by planting a tree. Condolences and memories may be shared with the family online at www.landersfh.com.