Margaret Joan "Joan" Erickson Whalen, 89, was born in Connersville, Indiana on April 2, 1936. She passed away peacefully in Austin, Texas September 20, 2025.

She was the eldest child of Margaret E. Werking Erickson (later Hull) and Carl Philip Erickson. She received her Bachelor of Arts (1958) and Master of Arts in Teaching (1968) in Biology from Indiana University.

Joan and Edward L. Whalen were married in 1959, and raised their family mostly in Bloomington, Indiana. Joan's primary focus was with family and friends, but she also enjoyed volunteering with scouting as well as working part time as an Academic Advisor for Indiana University.

Joan and Ed moved to Houston in 1990. While maintaining strong connections with family and friends, Joan enjoyed teaching biology at Houston Community College and serving as a docent at the Houston Museum of Natural Science.

After Ed passed away in 2019, Joan and her daughter and son-in-law moved to Kerrville, Texas where Joan enjoyed the Riverside Nature Center, the Dietert Senior Center and meeting people on the beautiful Guadalupe River Trail.

Joan had a lifelong connection with her sisters of the Kappa Alpha Theta sorority and served enthusiastically on Theta boards at both a local and national level.

Her friendliness, hospitality and ready smile will be missed by all who had the privilege of knowing her.

Joan was preceded in death by her husband of over 59 years, and her childhood friend and later step-sister, Helen Ann (Hull) Adams. Joan is survived by her son Edward P. Whalen (Haley), her daughter Elizabeth W. Hern (Bret), her younger brother David P. Erickson (Connie); five grandchildren Edward, Hollian & Brynn (Julian Martin) Whalen and Alison & Eric Hern; three nephews, a niece, two step-nieces and their spouses; and one grandnephew, one grandniece, two step-grandnephews, and two step-grandnieces.

A graveside service will be held on Tuesday, September 30, 2025 at Calvary Cemetery in Terre Haute at 11:00 a.m. where Joan will be laid to rest next to Ed. Father Todd Riebe will officiate. Those who attend are invited to join the family for lunch at M. Mogger's Restaurant & Pub following the service. DeBaun Funeral Home was entrusted with arrangements. Online condolences may be made to www.debaunfuneralhomes.com.