DOROTHY JEAN WHEATON

Dorothy Jean Wheaton (nee Briggs), age 88, passed peacefully at home on Saturday evening, January 9, 2016, from complications of Alzheimer's disease. She was born in Carey, OH in 1927 to William and Zella Briggs (nee Rothgeb). She grew up in Mansfield, OH but lived the majority of her adult life in Middleburg Hts. and Strongsville, OH. Married to Alan Edwin Wheaton in 1949, they raised three children and enjoyed 66 years of marriage together. Beloved mother of Darcie Drake (Robert), Edward Wheaton (Catherine), and Janilee Wheaton (James Cooke). Mrs. Wheaton graduated as co-valedictorian of Madison High School's class of 1945. As a teen she edited her school newspaper, worked on a newsletter for WWII soldiers from her home town, and enjoyed writing poetry. She published a poem in Scholastic magazine which was later reprinted in an English textbook, English in Action: Course 2. She continued her amateur journalistic career at Ashland College where she edited the college newspaper and was a newscaster on the college radio station, WRDL. After receiving her Bachelor's degree in education from Ashland College in 1949, she spent two years as a 4th grade teacher for Ontario Local Schools and two years as a 3rd grade teacher for Berea City School District until she started her family in 1954. In addition to working as a full-time homemaker, she joined with her husband to manage a successful insurance agency for 35 years. After her retirement from the insurance business, she and her husband embarked upon several different business ventures including tag sales, property management, and dinnerware resale. Dorothy and Alan Wheaton have been long-time members of the United Methodist Church of Berea. Mrs. Wheaton supported her husband in his work on the Board of Trustees at Southwest General Health Center and she did volunteer work there for a short time. In the later years of her life she was active in the Strongsville New Found Friends organization and attended aerobics classes regularly at Lifeworks of Southwest General. Her hobbies included sewing, travel, and spending time with family and friends. She enjoyed musical theatre, barbershop quartets, and the writings of Louisa May Alcott. Mrs. Wheaton is survived by her husband and their three children (mentioned above). She is also survived by five grandchildren: Robert Wheaton (Jennie Baker), Jennifer Hanhilammi (Trevor), and Amy Zeitler (Daniel) of Columbus, OH as well as Bryan Drake of Seattle, WA and Jason Drake of Cleveland, OH. Her four great-grandchildren are Daniel and Penelope Wheaton and Adam and Allison Hanhilammi. Her younger brother, William Earl Briggs, resides in Greensboro, N.C. She was pre-deceased by her older sister, Louise Barco, of Medina, OH. A memorial service for Mrs. Wheaton, to be held at the United Methodist Church of Berea, Saturday April 30, 2016 at 2:00 p.m. The family suggests that those who wish to honor her memory in the meantime may make a donation to the Hospice of Southwest General, the United Methodist Church of Berea, or the Alzheimer's Association. Arrangements entrusted to the A. RIPEPI & SONS FUNERAL HOME, 18149 Bagley Road, Middleburg Heights, Ohio 44130 (West of I-71) Memorial Service April 30, 2016 2:00 PM to 3:00 PM UNITED METHODIST CHURCH OF BEREA 170 Seminary Street Berea, OH 1-440-234-3525