Wheeler, Virgil

Virgil Wheeler

Services:Have been held.

Mr. Virgil Wheeler, 79, died Sunday, Dec. 5, 2004, near Portales.

He was born on Aug. 31, 1925, in Oklahoma to Dora and Johnny Wheeler. He “fudged” on his age in order to be able to enlist in the Navy in December of 1942 and served aboard the U.S.S. Elliott. Following the war, he started his career with the Santa Fe Railroad and retired as a Division Lineman in 1986 after 36 years, during which time he was a member of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers. Since his retirement, he had continued to farm and ranch and raise Arabian horses. He married Patricia Simpson in Breckenridge, Mo., on Oct. 14, 1952.

He was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers, Jerden and Ben Wheeler; three sisters, Bonnie Hackney, Luwanna Wheeler and Patsy Wheeler; a daughter, Elizabeth Kay Wheeler; and a grandson, Zebulon Wheeler.

Survivors include his wife; three sons, Kevin Wheeler (and wife, Sheryll) of Thief River Falls, Minn., Keith Wheeler (Cheryl) of Gallup, and Kyle Wheeler (Betsy) of Sapello; four daughters, Karen Cantrell (Chris) of Fort Worth, Texas, Kris Vigil (Kenny) of Clovis, Kelen Kimbrel (Dale) of Albuquerque, and Frances Ruth Carlson of California; 18 grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; three brothers, Harold Wheeler (Jenny) and Leroy Wheeler (Vondell), both of Norman, Okla., and Thomas Wheeler (Ann) of Florida; and a niece, Shirley Whatley.

The Rev. J. R. Dick Ross will officiate the services.

Burial will be at the Portales Cemetery.

Pallbearers are Dale Kimbrel, Kenny Vigil, Kevin Wheeler, Keith Wheeler, Kyle Wheeler and Chris Cantrell.

Honorary pallbearers are Kody Vigil, Justin Wheeler, Matthew Jaramillo and Andrew Espinosa.

Arrangements are by Wheeler Mortuary of Portales.