Geraldine A. Wheeler

Geraldine Agatha Robinson Wheeler was born in Chicago, Illinois on August 7, 1921, to John W. and Eva Mitchell Robinson. She was born the same day her father was ordained a minister in the A.M.E. Church. Geraldine was the first of five daughters born of this union. Sisters Gwendolyn, Katherine, Margaret and Shirley Ann followed. While still a girl, the family suffered the loss of the youngest child, Shirley Ann, at age seven. Geraldine and her sisters mourned the loss of their young sister all their lives.

The Robinson family grew up in the Woodlawn neighborhood in Chicago. She attended McCosh Elementary School, and graduated from Englewood High School. The home in Woodlawn was on the first floor of a two-flat building owned by Madge Wheeler Middleton. The Wheeler family lived upstairs and consisted of five children. The youngest of the five, Hiram, told Geraldine’s mother he loved Geraldine when she was fourteen years old.

Geraldine was very talented. She was an excellent cook, played the piano, but her greatest talent was sewing. She made beautiful clothes for herself and her sisters.

Some years later, in July, 1943, Hiram and Geraldine were married while Hiram was serving in the U.S. Army. The young couple began raising their family with the birth of their first child, a daughter, followed over the years by the addition of three sons. The family spent many happy years growing up in Woodlawn, attending the same elementary school as their parents.

Geraldine stayed home and raised her family for fifteen years before deciding to join the work force. She worked part time at Michael Reese Hospital as a receptionist, then joined Hiram as an employee of United Airlines in Elk Grove Village. She worked for United as a ticket auditor for 20 years before retiring.

The Wheeler family moved to the Park Manor neighborhood, then later to West Chatham. They joined Crerar Memorial Presbyterian Church in 1962, where Geraldine sang in the choir for many years.

Over the years, Geri and Hi loved to travel and ventured around the world. They visited China, France and Spain, as well as states all over the U.S.

Geraldine continued sewing her entire life spending hundreds of hours at her sewing machine. She made an exquisite wedding dress for a dear friend, and made gorgeous formal gowns for her daughter. Her hand stitching was the finest imaginable. In her retirement she began sewing dolls, her most famous creation being ‘Bennie Eddie’. After mastering doll making, Geraldine began making quilts, and this became her passion. She made beautiful quilts and gave them to her children as gifts. She then made quilts for each of her grandchildren and great-grandchildren as they were born. All the quilts were signed by embroidering her name in the corner. They will always be treasured by her family.

On Saturday, March 10, 2018, after declining health for the last few years, Geraldine was summoned to her eternal rest. She was preceded in death by her husband of 69 years, Hiram, her sister, Margaret Cox and a grandson, Gerald, Jr “Ernie”. She is survived by her devoted children; daughter Eileen (Julius Davenport); son Hiram, Jr “Spike” (Lillie); son Gerald (Karen); son John (Celeste); six grandchildren, Kelli, Kara, Victor, Brie, Christina and Jonathan; four great-grandchildren, Amber, Austin, Karson and Aria; two sisters, Gwendolyn Anderson, who resides in Los Angeles and Katherine Hannett, who resides in the Chicago area; numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and countless friends.

She will be dearly missed.

“And flights of angels sing thee to thy rest” – Hamlet

Family receiving Wednesday, March 21, 2018 9:30 am until the start of her Memorial Celebration of Life, 11:00 am at Crerar Memorial Presbyterian Church, 8100 S Calumet Ave, Chicago, IL 60619, 773-874-2132.

Arrangements entrusted to Kenny Brothers Funeral Directors,3600 W. 95th Street, Evergreen Park, IL, 708-425-4500, www.kennybrothersfuneral.com.