William J. Wheeler

04/28/2006

William J. Wheeler, 79, of 19 Pine Grove Ridge died Friday at Berkshire Medical Center in Pittsfield. He was a former Otis selectman. Born in Pittsfield on March 25, 1927, son of Ernest and Jane Mullaney Wheeler, he was a graduate of St. Mary's School in Lee and attended Lee High School until entering the Navy during World War II. After his discharge in 1946, he returned to high school and graduated in 1946. He played football, basketball and baseball and, later, semipro football and baseball. Mr. Wheeler was employed by General Electric Co. until 1949, when he joined the Friendly Ice Cream manager training program. He was manager of the Westfield store and then the Pittsfield store until 1975, when he was appointed district manager, retiring in 1985. After retiring, he spent winters in South Venice, Fla., and summers in East Otis. He was a communicant of St. Mary's Church. He and his wife, the former Ann B. Bangs, would have celebrated their 56th wedding anniversary June 10. Besides his wife, he leaves three sons, W. Mark Wheeler of North Adams, Matthew D. Wheeler of Wareham and David L. Wheeler of East Otis; a daughter, Janice M. Wheeler of Lee; eight grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren. FUNERAL NOTICE -- A Liturgy of Christian Burial for William J. Wheeler, who died Friday, April 28, 2006, will be celebrated Friday, May 5, at 11 at St. Mary's Church in Lee. Burial will be at the convenience of the family. There will be no visiting hours. Friends wishing may make donations to the William Wheeler Scholarship Fund for a football scholarship to be established at Lee High School, in care of KELLY FUNERAL HOME, 3 Main St., Lee, MA 01238. He also leaves eight grandchildren, Trisha, Jessica, Christie, Nicky, Marissa, D.J., Kelly and Bob, and two great-grandchildren, Cheyanne and Kohl.

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