Howard Arthur Wheeler

Howard Arthur Wheeler, 83, of Fuquay-Varina, North Carolina, passed from this life into the loving arms of his Savior, on January 24, 2024. Diagnosed in 2021 with pulmonary arterial hypertension, Howard valiantly fought this cruel disease, and in the end, was able to be in the home he loved, surrounded by family.

Howard was born on January 21, 1941, in LaPlata, Maryland, to Clifton and Effie Wheeler. A 1959 graduate of Lackey High School, he loved music and was first-chair trumpet in the band and played in a dance band. He enjoyed traveling with his high school band to perform in competitions and parades, and he shared his creative talents as an artist and set designer for various plays and dances.

After high school, Howard attended Benjamin Franklin University, in Washington, DC, for accounting, and later worked at the Maryland Independent newspaper and St. Elizabeth’s Hospital. He then served as a management analyst with the United States Government Printing Office (GPO), which produces and distributes the official publications of Congress, the White House, and other Federal agencies. Interestingly, the bureau’s values are honesty, kindness, and inclusiveness – traits which Howard demonstrated daily during his 43 years at GPO and beyond.

At the age of 12, Howard put his personal trust in Jesus as his Lord and Savior at a Royal Ambassadors’ camp. He sang in church choirs for as long as he could remember and would go on to also serve as a deacon, Sunday School teacher, youth leader, chair of several committees, and eventually, music director at First Baptist Church of St. Charles, in Waldorf, Maryland. It was this role he loved the most, and he put his all into his post-retirement, “part-time” job. Together with Faye, he began and directed a churchwide Christmas dinner theater, which grew in both size and popularity over 10 years. If he hadn’t moved to North Carolina in 2013, it’s likely the dinner theater show would still be a must-see attraction for the community.

As a new Fuquay-Varina resident, Howard immediately joined and became active in the choir and senior adult ministry at Fuquay-Varina Baptist Church. His final musical adventure was with the Fuquay-Varina Community Chorale. It gave him such joy to sing alongside his wife and other talented musicians, and perform for seasonal concerts and events, like Christmas tree lightings and the hot air balloon festival.

Howard’s Christianity was lived daily by the special kind of love he felt and showed to his wife, children, grandchildren, and friends. He was kind, thoughtful, generous, humble, and wise, and he loved to laugh and travel. Everyone who knew him felt better about themselves after being in his presence, and we are all incredibly grateful for his legacy of love and devotion.

Preceded in death by his parents, Howard is survived by his wife of 60 years, Faye Gilroy Wheeler, daughters Holly Baugh (Mark), of Cincinnati, Ohio, and Christy Straight (Jim), of Apex, North Carolina, grandchildren Drew Baugh, Sarah Begley (Coleton), Connor Straight, and Morgan Straight, and great-grandson Riley Begley. He was also deeply loved by his cousins, sisters-in-law, and numerous nieces and nephews.

A worship service and celebration of his life will be held at 1:30 pm, on Friday, February 2, 2024, at Fuquay-Varina Baptist Church. Starting at 12 pm, the family will greet visitors, and immediately following the service, we will proceed to Wake Chapel Memorial Gardens for burial.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Fuquay-Varina Baptist Church (301 North Woodrow Street, Fuquay-Varina, NC 27526) or Heartland Hospice (4515 Falls of Neuse Road, Suite 420, Raleigh, NC 27609).