Joseph Washington Wheeler, Jr.

Evans, GA – Mr. Joseph Washington Wheeler, Jr., 77, beloved husband of Mrs. Ludelle Langham Wheeler, passed away at his home on June 6, 2009 after a brief illness.

A memorial service will be held at 3:00 PM on Monday, June 8, 2009 at Wesley United Methodist Church with Rev. Greg Porterfield officiating. A private interment will be held at Savannah Valley Memorial Gardens in Thomson, GA.

Known as “Sonny” to his family and close friends, he was born on August 31, 1931, in Wrens, GA, the third son to Joseph Washington Wheeler and Lucile Lokey Wheeler. Mr. Wheeler graduated from Thomson High School in 1948. He graduated from Presbyterian College in 1952 with a degree in Business Administration. After college, he enlisted in the United States Army, served in Korea as a First Lieutenant and was honorably discharged in 1954. He began his career with DuPont Company at the Savannah River Plant in 1955 and retired after 35 years of service. Mr. Wheeler was a member of Wesley United Methodist Church, Savannah River chapter of the health Physics Society, SRS Retiree Association, Augusta Genealogy Society and the Georgia Genealogical Society. He is remembered as a devoted husband, loving father and grandfather, generous benefactor as well as a trusted and faithful friend. In his younger years, he served actively with the Boy Scouts of America and Little League Baseball. In his later years, genealogy became his passion. He conducted extensive research into and published family histories for the Wheeler, Lokey, Langham, Blanchard, Sims, Curry, Thaxton and Bell families. Mr. Wheeler also enjoyed serving in his church, caring for his family and friends and was an avid gardener.

Mr. Wheeler is survived by his wife of 52 years, Ludelle Langham Wheeler. In addition, he is survived by his two children, Joseph Washington Wheeler III and wife, Andrea Curry Wheeler, of Evans, GA and Jennifer Wheeler Thaxton and husband, Arthur Ronald Thaxton, of North Augusta, SC, and grandchildren, Matthew Graham Wheeler, Amanda Langham Wheeler and Joshua Owen Thaxton. He is also survived by sisters-in-law, Carolyn Whitehead Wheeler of Bogart, GA and Barbara Wilmont Wheeler of Rocky Hill, CT.

Mr. Wheeler was preceded in death by his parents and also his brothers, Charles Lokey Wheeler, Walter Donald Wheeler and Anthony Gheesling Wheeler.

If so desired memorials may be made to the Wesley UMC Building Fund, 825 N. Belair Road, Evans, GA 30809.

The family will receive friends at the funeral home Sunday evening, June 7, 2009 from 6:00 to 8:00 PM.