Obituary of Thomas Joseph Whelan

Thomas J "Tucker" Whelan III, 73, of Rio Grande passed away on Monday, May 21, 2012 at Jefferson University Hospital in Philadelphia. Born in Philadelphia and formerly of Laurel Springs, NJ; he has been a Cape May area resident since 1985. Thomas was a graduate of South Catholic High School in Philadelphia and served his country in the US Marine Corps from 1957 to 1959 during the Lebanon Crisis. Thomas was a truck driver and a line cook & saute cook for many local restaurants. He was a member of Our Lady of Mt Carmel RC Church in Philadelphia; the Quaker City String Band; the Wildwood Moose Club, and was an original member of the Cherokee Club of Philadelphia. Thomas is survived by his wife Eleanor (nee Sharp) Whelan, his son Thomas J (Patti) Whelan IV, his daughters: Kim Whelan & husband Christian, Sandy (Joseph) McCall, Susan Marche, Karen Rutland & companion Debi, and son Robert (Debbi) Driscoll. Also surviving are his 14 grandchildren: Danielle, Beth, Patrick, Colleen, Sean, Ryan, Amanda, Brittany, Madison, Nicholas, Paulina, Zachary, Melanie, & Joseph and 9 great grandchildren; along with his brothers Edward, Robert, & Joseph Whelan; and his sister Roseanne Whelan. There will be a funeral service at 11:00 AM on Friday, May 25, 2012 at the Evoy Funeral Home, 3218 Bayshore Rd, N Cape May, NJ 08204; where friends may call from 10:00 to 11:00 AM. Interment will be private. The family suggests donations in Thomas' memory to the American Cancer Society, 1851 Old Cuthbert Rd, Cherry Hill, NJ 08034.