Claudia Carol Wheeler

Dia, as she is known to her family and friends, was born on June 29, 1943 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma to Carl and Carol Schomburg. As a child, she lived as an "Army Brat," moving with her family to many duty stations, including Japan. She attended Irvin High School in El Paso, Texas, where she graduated with the class of 1961. Dia met the love of her life, Jim, on a blind date in February 1967. After a brief courtship, they couldn't wait to tie the knot, and did so on September 30, 1967 in Honolulu, Hawaii. The early days of their marriage were spent apart, while Jim served in Vietnam. Dia lovingly bridged the distance by sending letters and care packages, ever the dutiful wife.

Their life together included three children and duty stations throughout the country, to include Fort Bliss, Texas, Fort Hood, Texas, Fort Benning, Georgia, and Fort Richardson, Alaska. Also, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas where he attended Command and General Staff College. Wherever their travels took them, Dia made each house a home, by caring for her family in a manner that only she could. From making homemade cakes for birthdays to being a calm force in the midst of change, she did it all with love, class and grace. As her children got older, Dia worked outside the home, including administrative assistant roles at El Paso State Bank and First Financial Savings and Loan. She retired from Darling International in Irving, Texas in 2009 where she served in the Accounting Department.

She also gave back to the community by serving as the President of her homeowners' association for a great number of years. Dia loved to read and enjoyed staying active, whether it was taking exercise classes or walking with her beloved dog, Bowie. She also had her own horse and motorcycle. Jim and Dia enjoyed 58 years of marriage together, traveling and spending precious time with their children and grandchildren.

Dia is survived by her husband, James Paul Wheeler, Jr., Lieutenant Colonel, Retired; her daughters: Lisa Frazier and husband, Ron, of San Diego; Jennifer Burns and husband, Brad, of Waxahachie, Texas; her son James Paul Wheeler III (Trey) and wife, Claudia, of Bellingham, Washington; eight grandchildren: Callie Hooper of Tulsa, Oklahoma; Ally Metzger and husband, Sam, of Frisco, Texas; Dr. Cassidy Armstrong of Durham, North Carolina; Bryten Burns of Chapel Hill, North Carolina; Joshua Gallegos, Raegan Wheeler, and James Paul Wheeler IV (JP) all of Bellingham, Washington; her siblings Carl Schomburg and wife, Nancy, of Bartlesville, Oklahoma; Clifford Schomburg of Palm Harbor, Florida; Christian Schomburg and wife, Fran, of Live Oak, Florida; and Cyndy Lockwood of Kansas City, Missouri.

Dia is preceded in death by her father Carl Schomburg in May 1975; her mother, Carol Schomburg in February 2006; and her grandson Cody Hooper in May 2015.