Leta Beth Wheeler

Leta Beth Wheeler was born July 24, 1929, in Kingman, KS, the daughter of Clement Albert and Leda Sylvia (Combs) Wise. She passed from this life at home on January 22 at the age of 82.

While she was growing up, the family lived in Penalosa, where she was active in 4-H as both a member and a leader. Leta Beth graduated from Cunningham High School and attended Emporia State College and Southwestern College. She began teaching at the age of 17 in Mead Creek and later at Mt. Hope. When the Wises moved to Rock in the late '40s, Leta Beth joined them and continued teaching in Rock. She married James Arthur Wheeler on August 1, 1951, at Grace United Methodist Church in Winfield. They recently celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary. Leta Beth quit teaching to raise their four children, but during this time taught piano, was an Avon distributor, and was an accomplished seamstress, cook, and cake decorator. She supported her children by attending every school event, program, and ballgame of which they were a part. She continued this practice with all of her grandchildren’s events as well. Leta Beth later worked as an assistant funeral director for the Wheeler Funeral Homes in Burden, Cedar Vale, and Winfield. Throughout these years, she was a Sunday School teacher and pianist at the Rock Christian Church, and later at the Rock United Methodist Church. She was active with the United Methodist Women, serving as president in Rock and as treasurer of the Winfield District UMW. With their dear friends Bill and Pat Vaughn, Leta Beth and Jim enjoyed several cruises to the Caribbean, the Panama Canal, and Alaska; these made very special memories. Leta Beth and Jim lived on the family farm outside of Rock for more than 50 years, except for the year 1965 when they resided in Seattle, WA. They moved to Douglass in 2005.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by all of her brothers and sisters, Forrest (Ruth) Wise, Winona (Don) Matthews, Eldon (Edith) Wise, and Clark Wise.

She is survived by her husband, Jim; her children Victor (Nancy) Wheeler of Derby, Nyla (Eric) Mulkey of Wichita, Sylvia (Don) Campbell of Wichita, and Lyman Wheeler of Denver; 11 grandchildren, Ben Wheeler, Jeff (Ashley) Wheeler, Bryce Mulkey, Grant Mulkey, Taryn (Adam) Jackson, Matthew Campbell, Laura (Josh) Rhoades, Andrew (Bethany) Campbell, David (Megan) Campbell, Joel Wheeler and Daniel Wheeler; one great-granddaughter, Kaylin Mulkey; and one sister-in-law, Eugenia Wise.

Vistation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Thursday at Smith Mortuary, 1415 N Rock Rd., Derby. The service will be at 2 p.m. Friday at Douglass United Methodist Church, followed by interment in Stalter Cemetery, Rock.

Memorials are established with Rock United Methodist Church and Douglass Senior Citizen Center.