Paul J. Wheeler was born on January 4, 1933, in Wilbur, Kentucky. He grew up in Ashland, Kentucky, graduating from Ashland High School before joining the Air Force. In the Air Force, he worked as a radar repairman and was stationed in several places, including Japan and at Bergstrom Air Force Base in Austin in the 1950s.
While in the Air Force, he married Anna Lee Whitt, whom he had known in high school. After leaving the Air Force, he graduated from the University of Kentucky with a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering. Paul and Anna had two daughters, Lynne Burns and Karen Hall. Paul worked for IBM Corporation in Lexington, Kentucky before being transferred to Austin, Texas, where he retired from IBM and lived the rest of his days.
Paul had a delightful (if slightly corny!) sense of humor. He enjoyed playing bridge, working crossword puzzles, and drinking coffee on the porch while watching the birds and squirrels. Paul enjoyed traveling, and many happy memories were made on family vacations to Hawaii, Mexico, Grand Cayman, and Switzerland.
In later years, he found love again with his sweetheart, Catherine Arrington. He and Catherine were avid fans of University of Kentucky and University of Texas football and basketball. They enjoyed various travels, including to the beaches of Mexico and cruises to Alaska, the Caribbean, and the U.S. East Coast.
Paul was preceded in death by his beloved wife Anna and daughter Lynne. He is survived by sweetheart Catherine Arrington, daughter and son-in-law Karen and Greg Hall, son-in-law Tom Burns and "adopted daughter" Kristen Panico. He was a humble, funny, generous man who will be greatly missed.
