John Thomas Wheeler

John Thomas Wheeler was born November 29, 1928 and passed away December 10, 2014. John Wheeler was born to Carl C. Wheeler and Ray Pace Wheeler on Thanksgiving morning in Imboden, Lawrence, Arkansas. John was preceded in death by his parents, 1 sister Lura Bates and 1 Grandson Robert Martin Pollan Jr. He is survived by his loving wife of 63 years Mary Frances Bowman Wheeler, his daughter Vinita Lynn Pollan (Bobby), his son John Clifton Wheeler (Sabrina), 4 grandchildren, Mary Allison “Pollan” Sehnert (Sam), Amy Lee “Pollan” Barrick (John), John Clifton Wheeler Jr. (Jessica), Allison Nichole Wheeler and 3 Great grandchildren John Mason Barrick, Samuel Gunn Sehnert Jr. and Kaylynn Marie Barrick. Two sisters Ann Katherine Wildy and family and Mary Louise Dennis (Dan) and family. John attended the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville. He was a great fan of the SEC conference, the Razorbacks and the St. Louis Cardinals baseball team. He served in the Korean War January 1951 – January 1953. He was a member of the American Legions and a life member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars USA. He was a member in good standing of the Caraway Masonic Lodge #233 Caraway, AR. He was a Gideon for over 25 years and a member of the Graceland/ Gracewood Baptist Church from 1969 to present; being a Deacon and a Sunday School Teacher of the Caleb class for many years. He was born into the Grocery Business working in retail where he was clerk, butcher, manager and joining wholesale with Malone and Hyde in 1962 retiring from Malone and Hyde/ Fleming in 1994 as Director of the Quality Co Inc. He was a salesman and Sales Manager of Quality Stamps for over 20 years recruiting and training many good salesmen. He lost 5 salesmen in 5 years to management. The last 10 years he called on over 35 Fleming divisions in the USA and the Caribbean. John was a member of the Tennessee Genesis Association for over 40 years. John was one of the founders of “The Wheeler Cousins” Inc state of Missouri Dec 1980. He started working with his cousins on many lines in 1960’s. They published the book “The Wheeler Cousins” in 1984. He loved history, reading, gardening, his family and his church. Memorials may be sent to Gracewood Baptist Church, The Cancer Society or charity of your choice. The family will receive friends beginning at 1:00 pm with a memorial service to follow at 2:00 pm Sunday, December 14, 2014 at Memphis Funeral Home and Memorial Gardens, 3700 North Germantown Rd, Bartlett TN 38133. Online condolences may be expressed by visiting www.memphisfuneralhome.net