Marie A. Whaley

Marie A. Whaley, 72, of Kent, Ohio, while surrounded with love, transitioned peacefully to the next life on April 12th, 2026.

Born in Rapid City, South Dakota on June 13th, 1953, Marie’s early life would have her travelling both through the United States and internationally following her father’s Air Force career, including a much reminisced-about three-year span in Morocco. Once settled back in Ohio, Marie attended Wright State University, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts. Soon after, she would find herself at Indiana University where she would go on to meet her husband of 32 years and complete her Master of Arts as well as a Ph.D. in Communications, while never once letting anyone forget that she drove the IU basketball team around under coach Bobby Knight and also drove the stunt bus that almost hit Dennis Christopher in the 1979 movie Breaking Away. She moved to Kent, Ohio in 1981 and later became a professor at Kent State University’s School of Communication Studies, with specialties in group dynamics and public speaking. And just for fun, she pursued and achieved a second Master of Arts while at Kent State. (That’s four advanced degrees for anyone counting along.)

Marie spent her retirement years after teaching pursuing a variety of hobbies, none more loved than her years singing in the Kent State Community Chorus along with her daughter and volunteering with the Ohio Board of Elections as a poll judge. She was a passionate lover of politics, classical music, and a variety of media ranging from old western movies to the most contemporary anime series. Marie was never one to shy away from a learning opportunity and fiercely enjoyed spending time with her family—particularly sharing with them bawdy jokes, life stories, words of wisdom, and treasured holiday dinners. She will be forever remembered as a small woman with a big heart and the personality to match, a cheerleader for all her loved ones with a sharp wit and an eccentricity that was second to none.

She is preceded in death by her parents, Ralph Oliver Annala and Phyllis Janet Chase. She leaves behind her three loving siblings, Anne Annala (Dana Metheny), Leah Annala-Flansburg (Jim Flansburg) and their children Megan and Ian Flansburg, and her brother Doug Annala (Sam Reinhart). She is also survived by her two children, Nicholas (Nick) Whaley and Andrea (Andi) Whaley, and a beloved friend in her former spouse, Allen (Ben) Whaley. There are also three grandcats (Holly, Bennett and Jeremy) who will miss her dearly, but there are many beloved pets from her life who, her family is sure, met her at the Rainbow Bridge much to her delight.

In lieu of flowers, please consider sending donations to the following causes that Marie kept close to her heart:

AMVETS

The League of Women Voters

Her family also suggests supporting the following causes to ensure that people like Marie and their families can receive the same love, support, care and resources that she did:

American Diabetes Association

Dementia Society of America

UH Portage Medical Center

An informal celebration of life for family and friends will be held at a later date this year. Funerals were simply not her thing, but the Annala and Whaley families wish to extend their most heartfelt gratitude to the staff at Bissler & Son’s Funeral Home in Kent for fulfilling her last arrangements.

Services in Care of Bissler & Sons Funeral Home and Crematory, 628 W. Main St. Kent, OH 44240.