Jon Scott Wheeler

Jon Wheeler, 79, was accompanied by the angels and saints to be with the Lord on May 17, 2023 in Tallahassee, Florida. While the rest of his earthly body broke down, his heart endured, and he used the last weeks of his life to bring peace and unity to his visiting family and friends before passing to be with Jesus Christ his Lord and Savior.

Jon was born in Richmond, Virginia on April 30, 1944 to Maurice and Helen Wheeler. He moved to Florida as a teenager and lived in Miami and Tampa before attending Florida State University in 1962. Jon met the love of his life MaryLynn Kennedy while at FSU. Upon graduation in 1966, he became the first student ever accepted at Florida State University School of Law with his application to the inaugural class receiving special consideration for early acceptance due to his commitment to commission into the United States Air Force.

Jon and MaryLynn Wheeler married on July 16, 1966. After graduating FSU Law in 1968, Jon proudly served in the United Sates Air Force for over 22 years as a Judge Advocate. His assignments included multiple permanent changes of station throughout the United States including a tour in Fairbanks, Alaska. He exhibited the Air Force core values of integrity, service, and excellence throughout his career. Amongst several honors, he was selected as the Air Force recipient of the Kuhfeld Award given to the top lawyer in the United States Air Force and served as Judge Advocate for the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff at the Pentagon before finishing his career as the head JAG for the Air Force District of Washington as a Colonel.

Following service of his country and retirement in December 1990, he served his state as the Clerk of the Court for the First District Court of Appeal in Tallahassee, Florida until his retirement in 2017. During these 27 years and following his retirement, he was a leader in the community. While his health allowed, Jon was often seen in the front row pew or administering the Eucharist at Good Shepherd Catholic Church every Sunday. He was a stalwart fan at every Florida State athletic event that allowed spectators. Jon had an inexhaustible supply of advice, compassion, and corny jokes that touched the lives of those with whom he worshipped, worked, and interacted in the community.

Beyond being an active member of the community, he was a family man who loved his role as husband, dad, and grandpa more than anything else on earth. Although his Air Force service resulted in a family scattered across the country and world, he made his family the priority and made sure his love and support were omnipresent in the lives of his children, their families, and his extended family.

In addition to his parents, Jon was preceded in death by his father-in-law Clarence “Bud” Kennedy, his mother-in-law Mary Kennedy; his sister Shelly Colmorgan; his brother-in-law Harry Leafe; and his sister-in-law Susci Kennedy.

Jon is survived by his wife of nearly 57 years, MaryLynn Kennedy Wheeler. He is also survived by his daughter Laura Wheeler of Glen Allen, Virginia; his sons Jon Scott Wheeler, Jr. (Melissa) of Niceville, Florida and Chad Kennedy Wheeler (Karen) of Spokane, Washington; his grandchildren: Connor Peed, Braden Wiegan, Jessica Wiegan, Grant Wheeler, Jocelyn Wheeler, Max Wheeler, and Anna Wheeler; his brother Maurice “Skip” Wheeler (Renee); his sister Sharon Leafe; his brother-in-law Rick Kennedy; his sister-in-law Jill Kennedy (Mike); as well as numerous nieces and nephews.

A mass and memorial service will be held Thursday, May 26, 6:00-7:30 p.m. at Good Shepherd Catholic Church followed by a reception at the collocated Parish Hall, 4665 Thomasville Rd, Tallahassee. A viewing will precede the mass at Good Shepherd from 4 p.m. -5:30 p.m. A committal ceremony with full military honors will be held from 12-12:30 p.m. on Friday, May 26, at Tallahassee National Cemetery, 5015 Apalachee Parkway, Tallahassee. The family would like to invite all interested to attend any or all of these events. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Big Bend Hospice or K-9’s for Warriors.