QUEENSBURY- James A. Whelden 84, of Queensbury and formerly of Ballston Spa, passed away Monday, November 14, 2011 at the Stanton Nursing and Rehab Facility in Queensbury. Born in Saratoga Springs, January 9, 1927, he was the son of the late William and Mary Whelden. Jim was a graduate of Ballston Spa High School and the Bentley School of Accounting and Finance at Waltham, Massachusetts. He received additional training through the American Institute of Banking, NYS Bankers Association Executive Management School at West Point and the Independent Bankers Association of America at Harvard University. During World War II, he served as a sergeant in the US Army 97th Signal Corps Battalion. Jim joined the staff of the Ballston Spa National Bank in 1950 as a bookkeeper and teller. He worked in various positions at the bank and became a director and then president, in 1971. On January 3, 1974, Jim became president, chief executive officer and chairman of the Board of Directors. Jim served on many banking committees as president, vice president or director, including the NYS Bankers Association, the Independent Bankers Association of NYS, the American Bankers Association of America, NYS Bankers Safe Deposit Box Association, Financial Computer Center of Eastern New York, and the NYS Business Development Corporation Loan Committee. He was a class A director of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York from 1978-81. After his retirement, Jim spent much of his time at his home in Florida. He was an avid reader and enjoyed traveling and golf. Jim was predeceased by his first wife, Dorothy Landolfo Whelden, and two brothers, Germaine and Lewis Whelden. He is survived by his loving wife of eight years, Aletha "Lee" Whelden, his sisters in law, Jean Whelden of Ballston Spa, and Mildred Landolfo of Florida, nieces, Carolyn Faraone-Pennell (Jon) of Saratoga Springs, Laura Adams (Douglas) of Wilton, and Karen Whelden of Herkimer, nephew, Kevin Whelden of Ballston Spa, grandnieces and grandnephews, Jennifer Adams of Boston, MA, Christopher Adams of Montana, and Maximillian Faraone of Ballston Spa, stepchildren, Deborah Genier of Queensbury, Kim Pike (David) of Queensbury, Cheryl Knopka (Bruce) of New Hampshire, and Scott Wakefield of Plattsburgh, 7 stepgrandchildren and 10 step great grandchildren, Funeral services will be held 1pm Friday, November 18 at Armer Funeral Home, Inc 39 East High Street, Ballston Spa. Burial will follow in Ballston Spa Cemetery. Relatives and friends are invited to call at the funeral home from 11-1pm Friday.

 

 In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society.

Online remembrances may be made at www.armerfuneralhome.com 

IBANYS sends our deepest sympathies to the Wheldon family, friends, and all of the staff at Ballston Spa National Bank. Jim, a founding member of IBANYS, will be greatly missed.