Frankie Wheeler

Frankie Wheeler Jan. 26, 1923 – Nov. 17, 2017 Dorothy Francis “Frankie” Wheeler 94, passed away November 17, 2017 at Florentine Gardens Nursing Home in Cincinnati, Ohio. She was born January 26, 1923 in Charleston WV. Besides her parents, Etley Timothy and Emma Lillian Edens Withrow, she was proceeded in death by her husband of 55 years, James Leroy Wheeler, two sisters Lillian Tina Yourieff and Cornelia Marie Marion, and two infant brothers Ronald and Arthur Withrow. She is survived by a sister Reba Louise Kirk of Morgantown, WV, a daughter Patricia Annette (Patrick) Payne of Ironton, OH and two sons James Phillip (Sheila) Wheeler of Columbus, OH and Steven Wayne Wheeler of Cincinnati, OH. She had seven grandchildren and sixteen great-grandchildren, plus nieces, nephews, and many friends. Frankie Withrow met her future husband in art class at Stonewall Jackson High School Charleston, WV where she graduated in 1940. They married January 17, 1942 and shared a love for art for the rest of their lives. The family moved to Beckley, WV in 1957 where Frankie and Jim lived for thirty years and were very active in the Beckley Art Group, The Curtain Callers little theater group and square dancing. Frankie taught painting classes and workshops all over WV. In 1987 they moved to Dunbar, WV. For 25 years she was a co-op member of Gallery Eleven in Charleston and taught painting classes at Cedar Lakes for Elderhostel. She was a member of Allied Artist of WV, American Penn Women, Tri-State Arts Association and The WV Watercolor Society. At age 86 she moved to Cincinnati, OH to live with her son Steven. There she joined a weekly painting group, Mason Area Painters, was a co-op member of The Artist Lounge Art Gallery, played cards at the Senior Center, and made many wonderful friends. Frankie Wheeler loved her family, had a passion and unbelievable talent for art, never spoke a bad word of anyone, was fun to be with, and was an inspiration to everybody that knew her. Services will be on Saturday November 25, 2017 at 1:00pm at Tyler Mountain Funeral Home in Cross Lanes, WV. Visitation will be at noon. Condolences can be made by visiting tylermountainfuneralhome.com