Mr. Wheeler Owens Wilson

Services will be held at the Lloyd James Funeral Home in Tyler, Texas, on Friday, November 19, 2021, at 1 p.m.

Wheeler is survived by his wife, Mary Wilson, of Whitehouse; son, Curtis (Patti) Wilson, of Chandler; son, James (Laura) Wilson of Whitehouse and daughter, Elizabeth Wilson of Whitehouse.

He is also survived by eight grandchildren, six great-grandchildren, and numerous cousins, nieces and nephews.

Wheeler was preceded in death by his father, Joseph Robert Lee Wilson; his mother Evie Adeline Dockens Wilson; sister LaRea Walther; and brother, R.E. Wilson.

Wheeler was born in Boling, Texas, on July 29, 1933. He graduated from Wallis High School (1949) and received a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of Houston (1967).

He was drafted into the US Army from 1953-55, stationed in Japan. He married Mary West-Price on July 1, 1955, in Rosenberg, Texas. They remained happily married for 66 years. From 1963-68, he worked at the Monsanto Chocolate Bayou plant in Alvin, Texas.

However, Wheeler worked most of his career for Duval Sulphur Company, which later became Pennzoil Sulphur Company. He worked with the company in Orchard, Fort Stockton, Pecos, and Houston. At the mine in Culberson County, near Pecos, his job titles included General Superintendent and Vice-President for Production.

Wheeler served as a deacon and TV crew member at First Baptist Church in Pecos; and as a deacon at Central Baptist Church in Carthage. He volunteered with Gideons International to distribute Bibles in Carthage. Most recently, he was a member of The Woods Baptist Church in Tyler.

He was a member of the American Society of Chemical Engineers, and from 1997-98 he served as president of the East Texas Chapter of the American Society of Safety Engineers.

Wheeler served 1980-86 as a school board trustee of the Pecos-Barstow-Toyah Consolidated Independent School District. He retired as a respected substitute teacher for Whitehouse High School at age 86.

Wheeler was known for his Christian faith, kindness, quiet demeanor, intellect, pursuit of excellence, good character and dry sense of humor. Few are like him, and he will be missed greatly upon this earth.