Dixie Whalen Westlund

Dixie Lynn Whalen-Westlund

Dixie was born 11-29-1960 in Terre Haute, Indiana, to parents John Arley Price and Patricia Jayne Sullivan Price. She was proud of her parents’ musical accomplishments. Her mother sang with the Tommy Dorsey Band and her father had a band called the Five Chords that went with Bob Hope’s USO tour to the Orient. After Dixie’s 6 siblings came along, each one gifted to sing & play instruments, they became the Price Tags, a traveling family band. 

            Settling down in Terre Haute, Dixie trusted in Jesus at a young age, and became involved in the church that formed her faith, the Foursquare Church of Terre Haute. She excelled in playing her trumpet at Terre Haute North Vigo High School, earning the John Philip Sousa Award from the Marine Corp. Band because of playing taps at military funerals. She did this for 30 years & never failed to greet veterans with a “Thank you for your service.” 

            In 1981 she married childhood sweetheart and friend, Steve D. Whalen, and they left for Mt. Vernon Bible College in Ohio. This union produced her 2 beloved daughters, Amy Cheri Whalen and Amanda Nicole (Whalen) Reinhart, and her granddaughter Sara, the light of her life.

            Dixie, in addition to raising her family, worked diligently in the churches they ran, doing children’s ministry and women’s ministry. She had a gift for puppet ministry and had a clowning ministry, which started when she played Ronald McDonald as a teenager. 

            She completed several years of college coursework in the field of MRDD, and loved her years of work with her MRDD patients. Her latter years were spent doing her favorite work as “The Singing Aide” for Hospice.  She had the privilege of leading many of her patients and their families into the Kingdom of God.

            In 2018, she married David Dean Westlund, and was drawn into his family circle of love. Their time together was short because of David’s health, but they enjoyed a simple relationship of loving Jesus together. It was during this time that Dixie’s disability put her in a wheelchair and David cared well for her. David passed from sudden illness in July 2020.

            The last nine months of Dixie’s life were spent with her sister of the heart, Cindy Porinchak and nieces Faith Buchanan & Beth Wagler caring for her and her godson Josiah, and with her Church Upon the Rock Family in Hartville, Ohio.  She quickly got involved with the Ladies and Children’s Ministries and prayer and missions ministries. The children flocked to her every week. She is well-loved and her physical presence will be missed, but her spirit continues to be a part here.

            Dixie passed from this life into the presence of her Savior on Friday, October 1st, 2021 after a brief illness. She is rejoicing in Heaven now.

            The essence of Dixie’s life was her love for Jesus, and her passion to make sure everyone she met would hear of His love for them. She was a prayer warrior, a worshipper and fireball for Jesus.

            She is survived by: Steve Whalen; daughters Amy and Amanda (Rev. Matt Reinhart); granddaughter Sara Reinhart; Siblings John Arley Price II (JoAnn), Penny Chrisman, Melody Lunsford (Mike), Vincent Price (Sandy), Donald Price (Angie), Julie Bunch (Eddie); Beloved Father-in-law Charles Ted Whittier; Brothers- in-law and Sisters in law Mike Westlund (Beth), Marty Dix (Steve Firsdon), Julie Zimmerman, Mark Whittier, Jennifer Whittier (James Taylor), Heather Whittier (Edward), Kevin Whittier; and many nieces, nephews and cousins.

She was preceded in death by her parents John and Patricia, her husband David Westlund, beloved mother-in-law Betty, sister-in-law Kathryn Maddox.

To Celebrate Dixie’s Life receiving of family and friends will be Saturday October 16th from 12:30-1:00 PM at New Life Fellowship (Church Upon The Rock), 210 Grand Trunk Ave., Hartville. Services begin at 1:00 PM with Pastor Cal Schlabach officiating.

Arnold Hartville 330-877-9364

www.arnoldfuneralhome.com  

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