Mary G. Wheeler

Mary Greiner Wheeler, 94, died peacefully at her 48 Woodland Estates home in Lebanon on Tuesday, August 21, 2012. Mrs. Wheeler was a Lebanon County native who gave back to various communities for more than 75 years. She was born on January, 17, 1918 ; grew up on Colebrook Road in Lebanon, walked to the Snitz Creek one-room school house; passed the test a year early and went on to Henry Houck Jr. High skipping 7th grade. She graduated from Lebanon High School in 1934. In 1938, she graduated from Mansfield State Teachers College (PA) where she majored in history.

From an early age, Mrs. Wheeler was intensely interested in history and pursued this interest as an active member of historical organizations such as the Pennsylvania German Society, the Goshenhoppen Historical Society, and Lehigh County Historical Society. She volunteered at the Shelter House National Historic Landmark in Emmaus, Pennsylvania and guided tours at the Lebanon County Historical Society.

Mrs. Wheeler, who spoke Pennsylvania Dutch, was proud of her Pennsylvania German ancestry. She had an amazing memory and knowledge of names and dates. In any given room, by telling Mrs. Wheeler one’s family name, she was bound to personally know a parent, a relative, a neighbor, a working colleague, or mutual acquaintance of most individuals present. She took many trips abroad to further knowledge of her own European ancestry.

After she and husband Bob raised their five children in Cornwall and Emmaus (Pennsylvania), they moved to Los Lunas, New Mexico, where they were equally busy in church and community organizations. Elected for three terms, she served as vice-chairman of the Lebanon County Republican Party during the late 1950’s and early 1960’s. For decades, in both Pennsylvania and New Mexico, she volunteered with United States Naturalization Court, guiding, encouraging, and welcoming people as new citizens of the United States of America. After the death of her husband in 1987, Mrs. Wheeler returned to Lebanon.

She continued as an active of the Daughters of the American Revolution. She served as State Recording Secretary of the Daughters of Colonial Wars, both Vice President and Recording Secretary for Jean Ribault Chapter of the Huguenot Society of Pennsylvania, President of U. S. Daughters of 1812 – Robert Fulton Chapter (Lancaster), State Recording Secretary of Pennsylvania State Society of U. S. Daughters of 1812, Regent of Tulpehocken Chapter Daughters of American Colonists, Regent and Recording Secretary of Lecha Thal Chapter of Daughters of the American Colonists, Vice-Chairman of National Credentials Committee of the Daughters of the American Colonists, Member of Dames of the Court of Honor, as well as Parliamentarian for many of the same organizations. Locally, she served as President of Bethany Bible Class and Hospital Volunteer Visitor for Covenant United Methodist Church, as well as a Volunteer at the Lebanon County Historical Society.

She is survived by her daughter, Mary Alice Wheeler, and son-in-law, Andre Dominguez (Bloomsburg, PA); daughters Ruth Wheeler (Colo. Springs, CO) and Nancy Furniss (Winnipeg Lake, Manitoba, Canada); son, Raymond Wheeler, and daughter-in-law , Dakota (Oviedo, FL); daughter, Anna, and son-in-law, Reid Gentry (Chandler, AZ); and her dear nephew, John F. Pyfer, Jr. (Lancaster, PA) and his family. . Niece Janet L. Wheeler of Spokane, WA; and nephew Marcus Wheeler of Milwaukie, OR, also survive. Mrs. Wheeler leaves grandchildren Brian Dominguez (Atlanta, GA); Dr. Rob Milisen (Prescott, AZ), Annemarie Milisen and Nathan Milisen (Colorado); Mary Ellen Milisen-Kauffman (Bella Vista, Arkansas); Jamie Furniss (Lyon, France), Allison Furniss (Windhoek, Namibia), Felicia Wheeler-Le Blanc (Gillette, WY); Emma Rachel Wheeler Gentry (Phoenix, AZ), and great-grandchildren, Sam Dominguez (Atlanta, GA), Hayden, Robert & Matthew Milisen (Prescott, AZ), and Amber Rae LeBlanc (Gillette, WY). A Funeral Service will be held in the Covenant United Methodist Church 346 N. 9th St., Lebanon., Pa., 17046 on Monday, August 27th, 2012 at 2:00p.m. A viewing will be from 1:00p.m. until the time of the service. Interment will be in the Covenant Greenwood Cemetery, Lebanon. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be sent to Mrs. Wheeler’s church, Covenant United Methodist Church, 346 North Ninth Sts., Lebanon, PA 17046 or to the Historical Society of Lebanon County, 924 Cumberland St., Lebanon, PA 17042.