Edith R. Wheeler

07/02/2004

Edith R. Wheeler, 86, of formerly of South Main Street died Friday at Berkshire Medical Center in Pittsfield. She had been a resident of Laurel Lake Center in Lee for the past year. Born in Pittsfield on Sept. 13, 1917, daughter of Norval and Jessie Hill Robinson, she lived in Great Barrington and Housatonic most of her life and was a 1936 graduate of the former Searles High School. She spent winters in Venice, Fla., for many years. Mrs. Wheeler had been employed as a telephone operator in Housatonic for many years. She also was a self-employed caregiver for several years for many local families. She and her husband, the late F. Truman Wheeler, owned and operated a dairy farm at 817 South Main St. and lived in the family's 1771 homestead. She was a member of First Congregational Church, Great Barrington Grange 265, Umpachene Grange, West Stockbridge Grange 246 and Berkshire South Pomona Grange 25. She was a member of the Order of Eastern Star for more than 50 years and played the organ for the group for many years. She enjoyed traveling, sewing and music. While in Venice, she was a member of the Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd and Venice Grange 186. Her husband, whom she married June 17, 1939, in St. James' Episcopal Church, died in March 2000. She leaves a son, Frank T. Wheeler III of Alford; a daughter, Linda Mullany of Great Barrington, and five grandchildren. FUNERAL NOTICE -- A memorial service for both Truman and Edith Wheeler will be conducted Thursday, July 8, at 11 at FINNERTY & STEVENS FUNERAL HOME in Great Barrington by the Rev. Charles VanAusdall, pastor of First Congregational Church. Burial will follow in Greenlawn Cemetery in Housatonic. The family will receive friends Thursday from 10 until the time of the service at the funeral home. She is also survived by her son-in-law, John Mullany; daughter-in-law, Kathy Wheeler, and grandchildren, Jennifer and Amanda Wheeler, Christopher Mullany, and Cheryl and Gary Soldati. Memorial contributions may be made to the Laurel Lake Center Activities Fund through the funeral home, 426 Main St., Great Barrington, MA 01230. Remembrances, memories and reflections may be sent to the family through www.finnertyandstevens.com.

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