Obituary of Brian Whalen

Brian Whalen, 71, of 3200 Dutch-Hollow Rd. Bemus Point, NY, left us at 11:35 am Tuesday, November 6, 2018, at his home surrounded by his loving family. Brian was born November 12, 1946 in Jamestown, NY, a son of the late Bernard W. "Pat" Whalen and the late June M. Fellows Whalen. He was a 1965 graduate of Jamestown High School and enlisted in the U.S. Army shortly after graduation. He served for three years and was honorably discharged as a Private E-5. He returned home in 1968, where he and his father Pat opened Chautauqua Shooters Supply to supply reloading services initially for the Jamestown Police Department. Brian has owned and continuously operated "Chautauqua Shooters" at its current location for nearly 45 years. In addition, he worked full time for National Fuel Gas retiring after a 34 year career. Brian was well known as a world class trap shooter. He began shooting at age seven, thanks to his father, at the Celoron Rod & Gun Club during the 1960's. During that time he claimed the county's junior skeet championship and many trap and skeet titles as an adult. In 1977, he won the United States Open Skeet Championship and the New York State Skeet Championship. For 30 years his shooting ability produced dozens of local, state, regional and national titles in both doubles and singles competition. He won the New York State doubles championship in 1983, 1993, and 1997 and the singles AA crown in 1983, 1986 and 1990. In Pennsylvania he won the Pennsylvania Grand Doubles Championship in 1983, the Pennsylvania State Shoot AA singles crown in 2001 and the PA Shoot Handicap title in 2005. He also won four Zippo championships and was the only person to ever hold both the New York State skeet championship and the New York State trap championship titles. He was recognized for achieving a competition classification AAA-27-AAA, which is the highest ranking in competition trap shooting. For his achievements in the sport of trap shooting he was inducted into the Chautauqua Sports Hall of Fame in 2008 and is also a member of the New York State Amateur Trapshooting Association Hall of Fame and the New York State Amateur Trapshooting Association State Champions. He was a life member of the American Trap Association and served as a New York State delegate to the ATA national board of directors from 2005-2017. He served as President of the Penn-York Trap League in 2006 and 2007 and was the longest living member of the Celoron Rod & Gun Club where he was past president. He was also a member of the War Vets Recreation Club, the National Rifle Association and a past member of the Falconer Rod & Gun Club. Brian was also an instructor, coach and sponsor of the Maple Grove Youth Junior and Senior High Trap Club and a volunteer instructor for BOCES Criminal Justice Program in firearm safety and trap shooting. Brian is survived by many loved ones, his wife Bonnie Ford Whalen whom he married July 6, 1994, his children: Brian Whalen (Kathy), Nikki Whalen-Lombardo (Nick) both of Bemus Point, Stacie Chamberlin of Sinclairville, NY, his grandchildren: Taylor, Justin and Kamarin Whalen, Gabriel Brian, Damian Kincaid Lombardo all of Bemus Point, Jordan and Brandon Chamberlin, Elizabeth and Jessica Hornburg all of Sinclairville, a great grandchild, Amara Chamberlin of Sinclairville, two sisters: Bonnie Hardenburg of Mayville, NY, Sandy Kleinfield (Chuck) of Jamestown and his faithful caregivers Kaitlynn, Sydney, Michele and the caring people from Chautauqua County Hospice and Palliative Care. Besides his parents he was preceded in death by a sister: Patty Dauphine and a nephew Billy Kinney The funeral will be held at 11:00 am Saturday in the Fluvanna Community Church. The Rev. Dayle F. Keefer, retired pastor will officiate. Burial will be in the Lake View Cemetery. Friends will be received from 4-7 pm Friday in the Lind Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Fluvanna Fire Department, 3536 Fluvanna Ave. Jamestown, NY 14701.