Richard E. Wheeler

He was the husband of Mary Jane (Whitley) Wheeler for 61 years. Born in Utica, NY he graduated from Hamilton NY High School and St. Lawrence University in 1947. He earned a master’s degree in Psychiatric Social Work from Boston University in 1950.

He was a social worker in a children’s clinic and a veteran administration clinic in Syracuse, NY. In 1952 he became one of the first school adjustment counselors in Massachusetts. From 1960-1983 he worked for the Rochester City schools in New York, first as a pioneer Elementary Guidance counselor and twenty years as a social worker in inner city schools. He retired in 1983 and moved to Brewster, MA.

He is survived by his wife, Mary Jane (Whitley) Wheeler, two sons, Jeffery (Kimberly) of Harvest, AL and Stephen (Nancy) of Fairport, NY and a daughter, Beth Farrell (John) of Fayetteville, NY and his eight grandchildren.

He served in the 17th Airborne Division glider troops in Europe in WWII in the Ardennes.

He loved gardening, building things and his wife’s cooking.

Visitation will be held on Monday Dec. 5 from 4-7 PM at the Nickerson Funeral Home 77 Eldredge Park Way Orleans MA 02653. The funeral will be held on Tuesday Dec. 6 at 11:00 am at Nickerson Funeral Home, burial will follow at the Brewster Cemetery.