1948-2014
John Douglas Wheeler, 66, of Walnut Hill, passed away May 28, 2014 in Pensacola. John was born in Warren, Arkansas and was of the Baptist Faith.
John began his career as an Arkansas State Trooper. He also worked as a Warren Police Officer for the Warren Police Dept. in Arkansas. He was a 20 year veteran of the US Navy. During his time in the Navy, he was a Petty Officer 1st class Nuclear Med Tech Security Force Officer. John was a Deputy Fire Chief of the Bellview VFD and he was the IT Tech Smartcop who successfully developed 800 radio communications for the PJC Police Dept. and the Gulf Breeze Police Dept. He was a full-time Pensacola Junior College Police Officer at the Downtown College, a part-time Police Officer for the Gulf Breeze Police Dept. and a Dispatcher for the Pensacola Police Dept. The remaining of his career led him to the State of Florida, Department of Financial Services. While there he worked as a Workmans Comp Investigator and then moved to an Investigator with the Fire Marshalls Office - Insurance. Finally, John retired as an Investigator with the State of Florida Dept of Financial Services WC Investigator.
In 2012, John underwent a successful kidney transplant at Shands Hospital in Gainesville, FL.
His parents, Douglas Ray Wheeler and Frances Powell-Wheeler of Warren, AR preceded him in death.
Survivors include his life partner and caretaker, Paul Timothy Ferguson of Walnut Hill, FL; sisters, Donna Raines (Marlin) and Nancy Jones (Calvin) both of Warren, AR; brother, Jimmy Wheeler; nephew, Pastor Eddie Raines (Jodi) of Warren, AR; Nieces, Sarah Valentine (Matt) of Warren, AR, Michelle Johnson (Pete) of Meghee, AR and Deanne Dillon (Sean) of Conway, AR; Great Nephews and Nieces, Alex, Andrew, Abby, Amelia, Kelsie, Raven, M.J., Aidyn and Zoey all of Warren, AR.
Visitation will be on Tuesday, June 3, 2014 from 11:00-12:00 at Eastern Gate Funeral Home with the funeral services beginning at 12 noon. Pastor Hazel Godwin from Pine Forest Pentecostal Church and Pastor Eddie Raines from Victory Baptist Church in Hampton, AR will be officiating. Interment will follow at Eastern Gate Memorial Gardens. In Lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to the Shands hospital kidney donor foundation. Eastern Gate Funeral Home has been entrusted with arrangements.
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