Katharine Clarke Wheeler

WHEELER - Katharine "Katy" (Clarke) Went to be with the angels, November 11, 2011, age 89 years, of East Aurora, NY, beloved wife of 62 years to the late Roy L. Wheeler; mother of Lisa (Martin Baxter) Iselin of Fairfield, CT and the late Penelope "Penny" Clarke Wheeler; sister of the late Emma Louise Magee; also survived by her feline companion, Charles. A Memorial Service will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. Matthias Episcopal Church, Aurora Historical Society or The ASPCA. Arrangements by WOOD FUNERAL HOME, East Aurora, NY.

Katharine “Katy” Clarke Wheeler, a longtime East Aurora and Roycroft Inn volunteer who once received the key to the village, died Nov. 11 in Mercy Hospital. She was 89.

Born and raised in Buffalo, Mrs. Wheeler spent many weekends and summers in East Aurora. She attended Elmwood Franklin School and the Park School, then Southern Seminary College in Buena Vista, Va., where she served as class president.

She moved with her husband, Roy, to San Francisco until the end of World War II and subsequently lived in Middleport, Rochester and Toronto before returning with her family to East Aurora in the 1960s.

She did fashion consulting and sales work for the local Mabel Danahy’s store and Bonwit Teller department store. She also volunteered with the Aurora Historical Society and its two museums, the Millard Fillmore House and the Elbert Hubbard Roycroft Museum.

Most recently, she served as the grand dame of the docents at the Roycroft Inn, where she mentored new docents and coordinated the docent program for more than 15 years. She and her husband also were very involved in the restoration of the Roycroft Inn.

In 2009, Mrs. Wheeler was given the Godfrey Heritage Award for her work with the Historical Society and her contributions to the Village of East Aurora. At her 85th birthday celebration, the mayor presented her the key to the village.

Mrs. Wheeler was a former member of St. Paul’s Episcopal Cathedral in Buffalo and an active member of St. Matthias Episcopal Church in East Aurora for more than 40 years. She was a member of the East Aurora Garden Club for several years and had served on the board of Planned Parenthood.

Her husband died in 2004. She is survived by a daughter, Lisa Iselin.

Services will be at noon Saturday in St. Matthias Church, 374 Main St., East Aurora.