Thomas Joseph Wheeler

He was born on May 19, 1932, in Orange, New Jersey, the son of the late Charles and Ruth Veronica Wheeler. His mother passed away when he was a young man, and Tom was on his own from the time he was 15 years old.

In the mid-50's he worked at Carvel's Ice Cream shop in West Orange, New Jersey, and married Phyllis Moresco on June 23, 1956. Tom put himself through night school while supporting his family, and became a draftsman with ITT and later Bell and Howell.

He moved with his family to Las Vegas in 1969 where he worked at Centel Telephone Company while driving a taxicab on nights and weekends. He rose to the rank of Supervisor at Centel and oversaw the installation of underground telephone trunk lines all over the valley. Tom took early retirement in 1983.

Never one to be idle, he worked at the Imperial Palace until fully retiring in 1992. Tom enjoyed being "Grandpa" to his eight grandchildren, all raised in Las Vegas.

He is survived by his sons Thomas, Jr (Barbara), Joseph (Caryn), and daughter Lisa (Coll), and his grandchildren Jennifer, Joseph Jr, Aubrey, Thomas III, Ashley, McCall, Coll Jr, and Jack.

Tom will be laid to rest on Monday, July 8, 2013. Tom was a member of the LDS Church, 7th Ward, Meadows Stake, who will be handling the services. A viewing will be held at 9 a.m. at 3300 N. Buffalo at Atwood, with funeral services at 10:00 a.m. Interment will follow at Bunkers Memory Gardens at 7251 West Lone Mountain Road.