H. Deborah Wheaton

Heaven obviously needed another woman golfer. Deb Wheaton, age 90, left this world on December 3, and no doubt was standing on it's first tee the next morning.

Her parents, Helen and William Morgan, converted their farm into the Glenmoor Golf Course (now Frandor). Deb picked rocks, mowed the grass, and ran the Pro Shop, but most of all, developed the love of golf.

Even though she could beat all of the boys, women couldn't be part of Varsity sports at East Lansing High School or any other school. But Michigan State had a women's golf team, however not a Varsity sport, and she was part of the 1941 MSC team that finished second in a 20 team tournament at Ohio State.

She was awarded a BA and Masters Degree in organic chemistry from MSC, and after the death of her husband, Roger, she worked in the Chemistry Department at MSU until her retirement. But the love of golf never left her and she played golf virtually every day through her 89th year. Even as the effects of age wore on her body, stepping onto the course caused an amazing transformation as the muscle memory of eight decades turned her swing into what Sam Sneed called "syrupy smooth".

In 1971 Title IX legislation was enacted requiring equal treatment of women in sports. In 2002 Michigan State found the women who had represented the University prior to Title IX and awarded Deb her most prized possession-her Varsity letter.

She is survived by her four children, Susan(Tim) Michelson, Randy (Karen) Wheaton, Lezlee (Sid) Worthington, and Sara Johnson, 12 grandchildren and 3 great grandchildren.

While there is no funeral service, a reception of family and friends will be held for Deb at the Hannah Community Center in East Lansing on December 14 from 11 am to 1 pm.

Deb requested that any donations be made to the MSU Women's Golf Program or the Parkwood YMCA.

The family wants to extend very special thanks to the staff of Independence Village and Hospice of Lansing.

Arrangements under the direction of Gorsline Runciman Funeral Homes, Lansing, MI.