Elaine was born in San Antonio, Texas, on July 12, 1936, to the late N.A. and Mattye “Budgie” (Davis) Bomar. She and her family moved to Goliad, Texas in 1945 where she and her sister, Jo Rae were raised. It was there that she excelled in high school athletics, marching band, and twirling. She attended Baylor University and earned her Bachelors and Masters of Education from Texas State University.
As a teacher and coach, she raised her sons “Buck and Brad” in Kenedy and Goliad, Texas, and then continued her public school education as an athletic coach, teacher, educator, and counselor during the next three decades at Victoria I.S.D. She also taught at Nazareth Academy, Trinity Episcopal School, St Joseph High School, and Our Lady of Victory School. Elaine was teacher and mentor to many teachers, including Mary Post of Victoria.
Most readers will fondly remember Elaine Wheat as the author of the weekly column, “Oceans for Emotions” that has appeared in The Victoria Advocate in every Saturday edition since the early 1980s. Elaine was very proud that she never missed writing an Oceans article for 38 years. Her column of spiritual reflection coupled with witty, personal experiences has been one of the longest-running continuous publications in the Advocate’s history. Her “Oceans for Emotions” columns were about three things that she loved: God, the ocean, and fishing. Along with her column, she is also the author of three volumes of her articles along with a publication of poetry, “And it Came to Pass.” Her articles touched the lives of many and she is an inspiration to all.
Elaine Wheat is survived by her sons, Br. Jonathan Wheat, CMJ, of Chicago (Buck), and Michael B. Wheat (Brad) and wife, Michella, of San Antonio; best friend, Mary Ann Post of Victoria; sister, Jo Rae Dwyer Lange of Victoria; grandchildren Dyanne Wheat-Bongiovanni and husband Jason of Seoul, S. Korea, Marilyn Elaine Wheat and fiancé Patrick Thompson of Houston, and Rayce Wheat of San Antonio, and two great-grandchildren, Joseph and Ezra; nephews Patrick Dwyer (Cindy), Rob Dwyer, Zach Lara, Charlie Lara and niece Abby Elaine Lara, and many great nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in passing by her parents N.A. and Mattye “Budgie” Bomar of Goliad, and nieces Joanna Tharpe of Dallas and Shannon Lara of Victoria.
Her life and her passion was exemplified by her six decades of teaching, coaching, counseling, and inspirational writing.
Though her loss will be mourned, joy will always be found in the thousands of hearts of those who have learned, grown, been inspired, and have excelled in life from the wisdom and love she so freely shared.
Visitation will be held on Friday, January 4, 2019 from 5:00-7:00 PM at Rosewood Funeral Chapels. Services are as follows, A rosary is to be recited on Saturday, January 5, 2019 at 11:00 AM at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church, 105 N. Williams, with the Mass of Christian Burial to begin at 11:30 AM. Graveside services and burial will follow in Glendale Cemetery in Goliad.
Pallbearers will be Charlie Lara, Zach Lara, Dusty Dwyer, Patrick Dwyer, Ron Eichorn, Tom Jansen, John Fuqua, Jackie Lambert. Honorary pallbearers are Rob Dwyer, Jerome Kotzur, Jill Lambert, Dee Skeete, Charlotte Powell, Joyce Wheeler, Barbara Sutter, Gillian McDaniels,
Nancy Denison, Gloria Hernandez, Heather Jahnsen, Rosie Jahnsen, Mary Jean Seiler, Barbara Haley and Jan Lahodny. Altar servers are Jane Lambert and Julia Lambert.
Words of comfort may be shared with the family at www.rosewoodfuneralchapel.com
