Ethel Marie (Swihart) Whaley, 80, life-long Plymouth resident, passed away peacefully Thursday, April 12, 2018, at Miller’s Merry Manor in Warsaw.

Ethel was born Feb. 10, 1938, in Plymouth to the late Sumner and Clara (Graves) Swihart.

She married William Arlen Whaley on June 27, 1954, in Plymouth; and he survives.

Ethel worked from 1979 until retirement in 1994 from the Grace Baptist Christian School as a librarian.

Surviving is her husband; William Arlen Whaley, Warsaw and formerly a life-long resident of Plymouth, and their eight children, Rose (Dennis) McGrew, Plymouth, Tamra Helm of Mishawaka, Penny Rhoads, Argos, Douglas (Deb) Whaley, Plymouth, Cindy (Dave) Rabey, Tippecanoe, Jennifer (Rich) Brown, Rochester, James (Gail) Whaley, Rochester, Billie (Clyde) Sexton, Mentone; twenty-five grandchildren; twenty-eight great-grandchildren; and three great-great-grandchildren. Also surviving are her siblings,  Roy (Diane) Swihart, Plymouth, Irvy Swihart, Florida, Frances Swihart, Plymouth, Mary Blakely, Michigan, Bonnie Oliver, Arkansas, Connie Sterling, Arkansas; and many nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, four sons-in-law; Ronald Rhoads, Vincent Helm, James Lawrence Stoops, Robert Donald Pranger Jr., a great-grandson,  Aaron Tracy Eckman III., one sister, Eva Dunn; four brothers, Donald, Paul, Ray and Robert Swihart.

Visitation will be from 11a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesday, April 17, 2018, in the Johnson-Danielson Funeral Home, 1100 N. Michigan St., Plymouth. Funeral services will follow at 1 p.m. with Pastor Richard VanVuren officiating with her grandson; Aaron Tracy Eckman II, reading a Scripture.

Burial will follow in the New Oak Hill Cemetery.

Memorial contributions can be made to the American Cancer Society, 130 Red Coach Drive, Mishawaka, IN. 46544.