Lucille Mayberry Wheeler's Obituary
Lucille Emoline Wheeler, age 90, of Davidson, NC, passed away on April 30, 2017 at Novant Health Huntersville Medical Center, Huntersville, NC. She was born on January 10, 1927 to William and Mary (Frary) Mayberry, both of whom preceded her in death. On June 27, 1947 she was married at Epworth Methodist Church in Council Bluffs, IA to Harold W. Wheeler, who preceded her in death on September 16, 2014.
Lucille was the wife of a career Army officer and truly enjoyed all of the benefits that it entailed. While living in Tokyo, Japan in 1954-57, she joined oriental dollmaking and Ikebana (floral arranging) classes. She was engaged in both voluntary and elected roles at Army posts during the 30 years her husband was on active duty. She served in all official capacities of the Officers’ Wives’ Club, performed grey-lady service in Army dispensaries and blood mobiles, and served as assistant and leader with Girl Scouts, as well as coordinator for all Troops on Foreign Soil (TOFS) Girl Scouts and leaders during her husband’s tour at Kagnew Station, Asmara, Ethiopia in 1965-67. She was able to meet the Emperor Haile Selassie at an annual dinner held in his honor and to attend a reception for Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip at Haile Selassie’s palace in Asmara. She held a keen interest in the art of gourmet cooking, much to the delight of her family, and enjoyed singing in the church choir in her younger days. She dearly loved her family and all of the family gatherings that were possible. Having lived in Snellville, GA since her husband’s retirement in 1972, Lucille moved to Davidson, NC in 2015, living and loving at long last, nearby the families of her son and one of her grandsons. She was beloved by her family and friends, never to be a stranger, and will be dearly missed by all.
She is survived by her son Douglas (Lee) of Davidson, NC and her daughter Janet (Robert, deceased) Paulson of Chesterton, IN; her grandchildren Brian (Amanda) Wheeler of Davidson, NC, Christopher (Melissa) of Saugus, MA, Matthew Paulson and Zachary Paulson of Chesterton, IN; her great-grandchildren Caden Wheeler of Davidson, NC and Everlee Wheeler of Saugus, MA; and her sister Evelyn (Douglas) VanHorn of Omaha, NE.
She was preceded in death by her brother William Mayberry, and her sister Bertha Marie Nelson.
Funeral services will be held at James Funeral Home, 10520 Arahova Drive, Huntersville, NC, at 2 PM on Saturday, May 6, 2017. Visitation will be from 1-2 PM. Donations may be sent to Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center or Ronald McDonald House of Charlotte. Burial for Lucille and her husband Harold will be at a later time at Arlington National Cemetery, Washington, D.C.
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