John Wurster Wheeler (1936 - 2018)

"John Wurster Wheeler, born Nov. 2, 1936 in Jonesville, LA and a resident of Baton Rouge, passed away on Monday, March 19, 2018 at the age of 81. John was born in Jonesville and grew up in Alexandria. He graduated from Bolton High School in Alexandria in 1955. He received a BS in Chemical Engineering from LSU and was active in the ROTC and a member of Sigma Chi Fraternity. He served in the U.S. Air Force. He worked for Dupont Chemical in Florence, SC, and Dow Chemical in Plaquemine, LA. After retirement, he started his own consulting firm. He loved sports and played high school football, and coached little league football and baseball for upper elementary boys' teams. He loved his dogs. He was an avid golfer, and also loved fishing and hunting with friends. Active in church his entire life, he helped start a new church in South Carolina and was an elder of that church at age 25. In Baton Rouge, he was a Deacon at University Presbyterian Church. Later, the family moved to First Presbyterian Church where he served as a Deacon and enjoyed serving as a visitor to the sick in hospitals and the fellowship of Bible study. He is survived by his wife, Ella Rein Austin Wheeler of Baton Rouge; son, David A. Wheeler and wife Yvette of Baton Rouge; daughter, Elizabeth S. Wheeler of New Orleans; grandchildren, Matthew Wheeler of Port Allen, and Michelle Wheeler of Asheville, North Carolina; great-grandchildren, Allison and Jayden Wheeler; and numerous nieces and nephews. The joy of his life were his good friends and family. He was preceded in death by his parents, Henry Paul Wheeler and Myrtle Wurster Wheeler; brothers, Henry Paul Wheeler, Jr., Harvey M. Wheeler, and Jack Wheeler; sisters, Alyce Wheeler Newkirk, Ruby Edith Wheeler Noe, and June Wheeler Peach; paternal grandparents, Henry Perry Wheeler and Francis Boden; maternal grandparents, John Arthur Wurster and Eula Francis Wiggins. A Memorial Service will be held Thursday, March 22, 2018 at the Dunham Chapel of First Presbyterian Church in Baton Rouge at 2:00 p.m., officiated by Rev. Dr. Gerrit S. Dawson and Rev. Jim Solomon. A reception will follow at 3:00 at the church. Arrangements have been entrusted to Rabenhorst Funeral Home Downtown. The family wishes to thank all of his compassionate caregivers and friends, especially Elsie Stephens and Carmen Cowell. In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to the First Presbyterian Church Foundation.