Obituary for Albert Arthur Wheeler
Albert Arthur Wheeler passed away peacefully at home surrounded by his loved ones at the age of 94 on April 15, 2019. Art lived a long and fulfilling life, full of adventures, love and stories. He was born in Canaan, NH on April 16, 1925. He graduated Co-Brown Academy in Northwood, NH and joined the Navy upon graduation, serving in WWII, he received a Purple Heart for his service. He went to college on the GI Bill, and graduated with Forestry and Electrical Engineering degrees. He was one of the first employees at the IBM plant in Essex VT, and was dedicated to their pioneering breakthroughs in technology for 25 years. He was wise enough to realize the 9-5 wasn’t the real American Dream and retired at the young age of 52. From there he went from adventure to adventure, living life to its fullest until his last breath. Art always had the travel bug, and he with his first, then second wife- kept on the move with their variety of RVs and houses in Nevada, Arizona, Indiana, New Hampshire, and Vermont., building many of his homes himself. He has spent his remaining years chopping wood, telling campfire stories and living with his daughter Bonny and near his other daughter Teri, along with his grandchildren and great grandchildren.
Art had a witty sense of humor. His songs, handshakes and humbling life lessons continued to enchant us until the end. He was active in his final years with the Veterans Association, and the Vermont Association for the Blind. Art was an avid hunter and fisherman. He fished salmon in Alaska, and hunted elk in the the Rockies. He was proud to have explored all the states in the Union, from Alaska to Hawaii. He was always a seeker of new experiences. He followed Bluegrass Festivals, panned for gold and took taxidermy courses when he first retired. His education continued even recently, taking the train to Stanford University to take courses for the blind into his 90s. In the desert, he was part of the “Mosquito Gang”, that is, Art and his old buddies would take their buzzing motor scooters into the wilderness, in search of spiders, scorpions and rattlesnakes. Which he would then turn into treasures under plexiglass paperweights or snakeskin trim. He produced a volume of hand carved items, which he gave to family members, as he visited them while traveling through. We will cherish his carved golf balls, odd characters, and useful cup holders. He belonged to the Masonic Grand Lodge of Vermont F.& A. M, and was a devote Christian.
Art will live on through the memories we have from sleeping on the porch under the stars in Richmond, to the scout rides “going around the horn”, from “The Cow Kicked Nellie in the Belly in the Barn” to “We hate to see you go....”. Art, we truly, hate to see you go... He is predeceased by his wives, Lorraine Arnold Wheeler, Myrtle Marie Wheeler, his siblings Russel Wheeler, Frank Wheeler, Laura Schultz, Elizabeth Urie and Gladys Carlson. He is survived by his daughter, Bonny Moultroup, her husband David, their children Daniel and Dawn Moultroup, and his daughter Teri Galfetti and her children Solomon, Dakota and Autumn Benjamin, and numerous grandchildren, great grandchildren, nieces and nephews. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to the VA Medical Center, with the memo line “VIST Picnic” in honor of Art Wheeler. Checks should be mailed to VAMC, 215 N Main St, White River Junction, VT 05009. This is a yearly event Art never missed hosted by the Visual Impairment Services Team for Veterans.
On June 1, 2019 at 10 am, a Christian Funeral Mass will be held at Church of the Crucified One, 20 VT Route 100 S
Moretown, VT 05660. All our welcome. A small reception following, at location. Please RSVP to Daughter Teri, if you are planning to attend the church service. If you are in need accommodations, we can supply you with a list of lodges available. We are very sorry for the inconvenience, but neither daughters homes are available at this time. A Veterans Graveside Service is planned for July 19 at Upper Canaan Street Cemetery, pending approval from the cemetery committee, please contact Dan Moultroup for directions, events and times.
Art had a witty sense of humor. His songs, handshakes and humbling life lessons continued to enchant us until the end. He was active in his final years with the Veterans Association, and the Vermont Association for the Blind. Art was an avid hunter and fisherman. He fished salmon in Alaska, and hunted elk in the the Rockies. He was proud to have explored all the states in the Union, from Alaska to Hawaii. He was always a seeker of new experiences. He followed Bluegrass Festivals, panned for gold and took taxidermy courses when he first retired. His education continued even recently, taking the train to Stanford University to take courses for the blind into his 90s. In the desert, he was part of the “Mosquito Gang”, that is, Art and his old buddies would take their buzzing motor scooters into the wilderness, in search of spiders, scorpions and rattlesnakes. Which he would then turn into treasures under plexiglass paperweights or snakeskin trim. He produced a volume of hand carved items, which he gave to family members, as he visited them while traveling through. We will cherish his carved golf balls, odd characters, and useful cup holders. He belonged to the Masonic Grand Lodge of Vermont F.& A. M, and was a devote Christian.
Art will live on through the memories we have from sleeping on the porch under the stars in Richmond, to the scout rides “going around the horn”, from “The Cow Kicked Nellie in the Belly in the Barn” to “We hate to see you go....”. Art, we truly, hate to see you go... He is predeceased by his wives, Lorraine Arnold Wheeler, Myrtle Marie Wheeler, his siblings Russel Wheeler, Frank Wheeler, Laura Schultz, Elizabeth Urie and Gladys Carlson. He is survived by his daughter, Bonny Moultroup, her husband David, their children Daniel and Dawn Moultroup, and his daughter Teri Galfetti and her children Solomon, Dakota and Autumn Benjamin, and numerous grandchildren, great grandchildren, nieces and nephews. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to the VA Medical Center, with the memo line “VIST Picnic” in honor of Art Wheeler. Checks should be mailed to VAMC, 215 N Main St, White River Junction, VT 05009. This is a yearly event Art never missed hosted by the Visual Impairment Services Team for Veterans.
On June 1, 2019 at 10 am, a Christian Funeral Mass will be held at Church of the Crucified One, 20 VT Route 100 S
Moretown, VT 05660. All our welcome. A small reception following, at location. Please RSVP to Daughter Teri, if you are planning to attend the church service. If you are in need accommodations, we can supply you with a list of lodges available. We are very sorry for the inconvenience, but neither daughters homes are available at this time. A Veterans Graveside Service is planned for July 19 at Upper Canaan Street Cemetery, pending approval from the cemetery committee, please contact Dan Moultroup for directions, events and times.