Wheeler, Mary – 1921-2009

GOOCH, LISTER, STRICKLAND, WHEELER

Posted By: Volunteer
Date: 2/21/2009 at 13:54:52

Funeral services for Mary Wheeler will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 21, 2009, at the First United Methodist Church in Newton. Friends may call at the Pence ~ Reese Funeral Home after noon Friday. Family will greet friends on Saturday from 9:30 a.m. until service time and immediately following the service at the church. Arrangements have been entrusted to Pence~Reese Funeral Home in Newton.
Mary Frances Wheeler, 87, the daughter of Tod William and Frances Strickland (Lister) Wheeler, was born June 5, 1921, in Newton. Mary graduated from the Newton Senior High School, Class of 1939, and later attended Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa. Mary was employed at Newton Manufacturing from 1941 to 1980. She worked as an executive secretary and retired as a Customer Service Supervisor.
Mary was a lifelong resident of Newton. She devoted herself to her family and community. Mary was a longtime Camp Fire Girls leader. She was an active member of the First United Methodist Church; United Methodist Women; Newton Women’s Club; Golden K Kiwanis; Jasper County Historical Society; a board member of the Newton Y.M.C.A.; Friends of the Library and C.W. and Chat-a-bit clubs. Mary received the Governor’s Volunteer Award for her work 30 years with the Iowa Department for the Blind and their volunteer reading program. Mary enjoyed traveling, photography, needlework, reading poetry and playing bridge.
Mary passed away on Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2009, in the Monarch Wing of Skiff Medical Center in Newton. She was preceded in death by her parents and her sister, Eleanor L. Wheeler on March 5, 2003.
Those left to honor Mary’s memory include several cousins, including Jody Lister Gooch (David) of Newton; and her good neighbors and friends including many at Park Centre.
Online condolences may be left at www.pencefh.com .
Source: Newton(IA) Daily News; Thursday, February 19, 2009