William "Charles" Wheeler, Jr.

William "Charles" Wheeler, Jr. William "Charles" Wheeler, Jr., age 89, a resident of Kansas City, Missouri, passed away on Friday, May 8, 2015, at Corner Brook Place, Kansas City, Missouri. Charles was born the son of William Charles and Hazel M. (Phillips) Faulkner Wheeler on June 10, 1925, in Cowgill, Missouri, and grew up in the community of Polo, Missouri. He was a 1943 graduate of Polo High School. Upon graduation, he was a Sheet Metal Worker until his enlistment in the U.S. Army in April of 1944. He served in Central Europe with the 330th Ordnance Battalion. He was Honorably Discharged on May 3, 1946, as a Technician 5 (Tech 5). On April 3, 1948, he had his first date with Jessie M. "Mickey" Rockwood, and exactly 1 year later on April 3, 1949, they were married. Charles and Mickey celebrated 66 years of marriage this past April. She survives of the home. For the last 30 years, Charles was employed as a Trustee for the Catherin V. Merrill Foundation, which sponsors many young graduates with scholarships to attend college. He was a member of the Disabled American Veterans, Veterans of Foreign Wars, and the World War II Memorial Foundation. Survivors include his wife of 66 years, Mickey of the home; two sons, Charles "Alan" Wheeler and wife Nancy of Belton, Missouri, and Brian Max Wheeler and wife AnneMarie of Tigard, Oregon; one daughter, Susan Lynn Keltner of Overland Park, Kansas; eight grandchildren, Amy S. Wheeler, Keith A. Wheeler and wife Amy E., Sarah Wheeler, William C. Wheeler, IV, Harrison Wheeler, Brent Keltner and wife Grace, Lance Keltner and wife Ami, Lana Thorpe and husband Joshua; four great grandchildren, Salina Wheeler, Avery Keltner, and Noah and Carter Thorpe; one brother, Wilbur Wheeler of California; one sister, Mary K. Demming of Clinton, Missouri; and three nieces, Brenda Ashworth, Claudia Bradley, and Leslie Flora; and one nephew, Ted Wheeler along with their families. Other survivors include a host of friends. He was preceded in death by his parents; one brother, Jack C. Wheeler; three sisters, Evelyn Ashworth, Avenell Terra and Lois Tarwater; two nephews, Michael Terra and William Robert Ashworth; and one niece, Linda Ashworth. Funeral services will be held at the Lindley Pitts Funeral Home, Braymer, Missouri, on Saturday, May 16, 2015, at 3:30 p.m. Family visitation will be held at the Lindley Pitts Funeral Home, Braymer, Missouri, Saturday, May 16, 2015, one hour prior to the service from 2:30 p.m. until 3:30 p.m. Friends may call at the Lindley Pitts Funeral Home, Braymer, Missouri, on Friday, May 15, 2015, from 12 noon until 6:00 p.m. Burial will be held at Evergreen Cemetery, Braymer, Missouri. Memorial contributions may be made to the Braymer Methodist Church and may be left at or mailed to Lindley Funeral Home, P.O. Box 47, Chillicothe, Missouri 64601. Online condolences may be made at www.lindleyfuneralhome.com . Arrangements are under the direction of Lindley Pitts Funeral Home, Braymer, Missouri.