John Carlyle Wheeler

John Carlyle Wheeler, age 64, of Falcon, NC, passed away on August 25th, 2024. John was born on July 27th, 1960, in Raleigh, NC, to Joe and Shirley Wheeler. The oldest of 5, John graduated from Richmond High School, where he played the trumpet in the marching band. John attended Holmes Bible College in Greenville, SC where he met Ginger Bizzell. They were married on August 14th,1981 and had their first child, Karen, in 1985. They moved to Falcon, NC in 1988 to become house parents at Falcon Children’s Home and had their second child, Rachel, in 1989. In the summer of 1995, the family moved to Oklahoma City, where John worked as the Admissions Director at Southwestern College of Christian Ministries and went on to work in Missions at the IPHC headquarters in Bethany, OK. John and Ginger helped start a church in OKC called Life Covenant Community. The church, and the people in it, would always hold a special place in John’s heart.

John and Ginger’s heart for foster children led them to become foster parents in 1998, which eventually led to adopting their children, Ashley, Chris and Ryan. In 2006, the family moved back to Falcon, NC where John and Ginger ended up working back at FCH. John was the Director of Foster Care before retiring in 2022. John enjoyed retirement, being available to volunteer at his church, Culbreth Memorial, and at Falcon Town Hall. What John enjoyed most about retirement though was spending time with his family, especially his grandkids, who adored their Papa. John was many things to many people but to know John was to be loved by him. He had the biggest heart and one of his hugs would change your life. John didn't know a stranger and there wasn't a stranger that couldn’t move his heart. John spent his life being the hands and feet of Jesus. He was a father to the fatherless, giving a family to those who did not have one. That is his legacy, that continues to live on through his kids, grandkids and all those whose life was impacted by John “Papa” Wheeler.

John is preceded in death by his father Joe Wheeler and his sister Judy Gipson.

He is survived by his wife of 43 years, Ginger; daughter Karen (and Glenn) Irwin from OKC, OK, daughter Rachel (and Casey) Strickland from Falcon, NC, daughter Ashley (and Alec) Forman from Clover, SC, son Chris (and Leah) Wheeler from Norfolk, VA and son Ryan Wheeler from Fayetteville, NC; grandchildren Maddox Forman, Indy Forman, Phoenix Irwin, Bowie Forman, Legend Irwin, Maverick Irwin, Haddie Joy Strickland, Cash Forman, Rhyatt Forman and Kaetlynn Wheeler; mother, Shirley Wheeler; siblings Iris (and Gary) Knowles; Tim (and Charlene) Wheeler, and Hilda (and Mark) Manriquez; brother-in-law John (and Angela) Gipson; as well as many nieces and nephews.

Funeral services for John will take place on Saturday, August 31st at 3:00 pm at J.A. Culbreth Auditorium, 6712 Church St, Falcon, NC 28342. The family will receive friends for visitation before the service from 1:00-2:30 pm.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to:

Falcon Children’s Home

PO Box 39

Falcon, NC 28342.

Services provided by Cromartie-Miller Funeral Home, Dunn, NC.