James Arthur Wheeler

James Arthur Wheeler was born July 31, 1927 in Winfield, KS, to James and Sallie Lee (Jessee) Wheeler. He passed from this life in Wichita, KS on August 22, 2016 at the age of 89. He grew up on the family farm in Rock, KS and attended Green Valley School through eighth grade, spent his freshman year at Cambridge High School, and graduated from Atlanta High School in 1945.

Following the death of his father, James, in 1947, he took over the family farm and continued farming until starting work at Boeing as a sheet metal assembler. He retired from Boeing at age 65 after 33 years.

Jim married Leta Beth Wise August 1, 1951 at Grace United Methodist Church in Winfield and celebrated 60 years of marriage before Leta Beth died on January 22, 2012. They lived on the family farm all of their married life before moving to Douglass in 2006.

Jim and Leta Beth supported their children by attending every school, music, and athletic event. They continued that practice with all of their grandchildren’s events as well.

Jim served as an elder in the Rock Christian Church and later attended the Rock and Douglass United Methodist churches. He particularly enjoyed being a part of the Douglass Senior Center and cherished the friendships he developed there.

Jim and Leta Beth enjoyed traveling with their dear friends Bill and Pat Vaughn and, after Leta Beth’s death, Jim enjoyed many travels with his children. Regardless of the destination, he was always ready to go.

In addition to his parents and wife, he was preceded in death by his sisters, Roxie (Harvey) Moore and Catherine (Jack) Grigg, and his brother David Lee Wheeler. He is survived by his children Victor (Nancy) Wheeler of Derby, Nyla (Eric) Mulkey of Wichita, Sylvia (Don) Campbell of Wichita, and Lyman (Mark Jurgensen) Wheeler of West Hollywood, CA; 11 grandchildren, Ben (Lacey) Wheeler, Jeff Wheeler, Bryce Mulkey, Grant (Tina) Mulkey, Taryn (Adam) Jackson, Matthew Campbell, Laura (Joshua) Rhoades, Andrew (Bethany) Campbell, David (Megan) Campbell, Joel Wheeler and Daniel Wheeler; five great-grandchildren, Kaylin Mulkey, Genevieve Rhoades, Ryder Jackson, Jameson Campbell, and Evelyn Campbell; and one sister-in-law, Eugenia (Milton) Moore.

Visitation will be from 2 to 6 p.m. Sunday, August 28, at Smith Mortuary in Derby, KS. Services will be held 10:30 a.m. Monday at the Douglass United Methodist Church. Interment will be at Stalter Cemetery near Rock. Memorial contributions may be made to the Douglass Senior Center.

Sunday, August 28, 2016

2:00 PM - 6:00 PM

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Sunday, August 28, 2016

2:00 PM - 6:00 PM

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Monday, August 29, 2016

10:30 AM

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