Marilyn Anne Wheeler

Dr. Marilyn Anne Wheeler returned to the Lord on January 17, 2023 in Columbia, South Carolina, her home since 1995. Marilyn was born in Fort Worth, Texas on Mother’s Day (May 10), 1942 to Ronald and Mary Wheeler, both college professors and musicians. Her life was framed by faith, family, and music.

Marilyn graduated from Frederick High School in Oklahoma, where she was valedictorian of the class of 1960. She was an extraordinary musician. She began playing piano at age three, and she was selected to the All-State Band in high school as a percussionist. After high school, she followed in her parents’ footsteps and attended Texas Christian University on a music scholarship. While there, she met fellow music student Jon Kindred. Both of them played with the T.C.U. band and the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra. They married in 1963. During Jon’s 26-year career in the U.S. Army, Marilyn pursued advanced degrees in history, earning her Master’s degree from East Texas State University (where her parents taught and where her brother, Scott now serves as Dean of the School of Business) and her Ph.D. from the University of Kansas. Marilyn served as an Army Staff Historian for over 20 years.

Marilyn (or “Mo” to her grandchildren and many family and friends) had her own internal clock, which usually ran about 30 minutes behind. Her candy jar was almost always full, and her gas tank was almost always empty. She believed life was too short to stay angry, sunbathe, or watch R-rated movies. She abhorred bad grammar, did not like pop music, and could never get mashed potatoes quite right. She loved all dogs (even bad ones), but was skeptical of cats (even good ones). And as much as she loved Texas, she did not smoke, drink (much), or “cuss.” She enjoyed a hamburger most Saturday nights of her life, always washed down with a Dr. Pepper. She was resolute that fajitas were beef and that barbeque was not pork.

She had a close relationship with God her whole life. When she lost her first-born in infancy in 1970, she drew even closer to Him. She soon began directing church choirs on the Army Posts where she and Jon were stationed. In her mid-40s, after finishing her doctorate, she began taking organ lessons. Within three years she was serving God, and her community, as both a choir director and organist. She shared her faith through music beyond just her Presbyterian roots, also serving Lutheran, Episcopalian, and Christian Science congregations.

Marilyn has now been reunited with her parents (Bobbie and Dodo to the grandchildren); her beloved sister, Wendlyn “Wendy”; her beautiful daughter, Alice Cogswell, and a lifetime of dogs. She is survived by her brothers, Gregg and Scott Wheeler; her sister, Carol Wheeler; her sons, Caleb and Travis Wheeler; daughters-in-law, Dawn and Lisa Wheeler; grandchildren, Luke, Cameron, Jack, Mia, Banks, and Woods, and her very special friend for the last eight years of her life, George Davis.

Above all, she was kind. She understood Jesus, and followed Him through her actions as few people can. She loved beauty, and found it in art, literature, nature, music, and kin. She has always looked forward to Heaven—she did not know what it would be like, but she knew it would be beautiful, and that was good enough for her.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 am on Saturday, January 28, 2023 at Forest Lake Presbyterian Church.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Marilyn's honor to Sistercare.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.caughmanlexington.com for the Wheeler family.