Obituary of Milton W. Wheeler

Milton W. Wheeler, age 92, of Kanona, NY, passed away peacefully, on Wednesday, March 27, 2013 following surgery at Corning Hospital. He was surrounded by his wife of 65 years, Wilma Swezey Wheeler, and family. He was born on Jan. 20, 1921 in Wilna, NY (now part of Fort Drum). Milt (Bud) was the oldest of Milton E. and Marjorie King Wheeler‘s four children. He grew up and graduated from high school in Belleville, NJ. He served in the U.S Army from 1942 to 1945, becoming a pilot in the Army Air Corps. He flew P-38 fighters, as a 2nd Lieutenant. Milt went on to earn a B.S. degree in History from Mansfield State Teacher’s College and a M.S. degree in Administration from Alfred University. He began his teaching career in Allentown, NY, rising to the position of supervising principal during his nine years there. In 1959 he moved the family to Kanona and began a twenty year career as an American History teacher at Haverling Central School, retiring in 1978. Milt had many interests. He was a two-time Golden Glove boxing champion in metro NYC as a teen. He enjoyed spending his summers with family and friends at the cottage on Lake Nosbonsing, Ont. He was a avid Haverling sports fan throughout his life, especially enjoying watching his five sons wrestle for the Ramblers. In his retirement, he helped train standard bred horses and enjoyed racing at county fairs and for many years he volunteered with the Bath Ambulance Corps. In addition to his wife, he is survived by his seven children: Scott (Tracy) Wheeler of Prattsburgh, Robert (Freida)Wheeler of Bath, Nancy Arquiette (Bob Gressel) of Howard, Milton E. (Susan) Wheeler of Bath, LuAnn (Dick) Hargrave of Avoca, Jeff (Jill) Wheeler of Kennesaw, Ga, and Greg (LuAnne) Wheeler of Bath; 16 grandchildren: Amy Matis Orfanidis. Michelle Matis Spies, Danielle Wheeler Evans, Casey Wheeler, Shawn Wheeler, Jack Wheeler, Levi Wheeler, Jonathan Wheeler, Nicole Wheeler Zugelder, Maggie Wheeler Gilbert, Steve Wheeler, Katy Wheeler Eason, Nicholas Wheeler, Will Hubbard, Corey Wheeler, and Brittany Wheeler; along with twenty great grandchildren and several nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his father Milton E. (Esther) Wheeler, mother Marjorie King Berckmann (Henry), brothers Jack and George (Jan), and sister Jane (Kenneth)White. Family and friends are invited to call on Friday March 29th from 4:00-7:00 pm at Fagan’s Funeral Home in Bath. Funeral services will be held on Saturday March 30th at 10:00 am at the Kanona United Methodist Church with Pastor Fred Dyer and Kitty Ormsby officiating. Burial with military honors will be in Fairview Cemetery, Osceola, PA. In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made to the Kanona United Methodist Church, PO Box 174, Kanona, NY 14856.