Robert David Wheeler

Bob was born in Kearney, NJ and was the oldest of four children. He lived most of his life in Lakewood, NJ and moved to Whiting, NJ in 2001. Bob was a Vietnam War veteran (U.S. Army), serving his country from 1968 to 1970. During his service in the Army, he lived in Hawaii for a brief period of time, which sparked a lifelong fascination with the Hawaiian islands and Hawaiian culture. He visited Hawaii more than twenty times throughout his life and truly embodied the Aloha Spirit.

Bob was a born scholar. A graduate of Lakewood High School (1963), he went on to receive a B.A. in English from Jersey City State College; an M.A. in human development from Fairleigh Dickinson University; and an M.A. in teaching from Monmouth College. His passion for learning and insatiable thirst for knowledge made him an extraordinary and beloved teacher, shaping the lives of countless students. He taught English in the Freehold Regional School District for 35 years and was an adjunct professor at Ocean County College. After retirement, he gave presentations on opera through Senior Ventures.

Bob was an impassioned lover of the arts, especially literature, poetry, film, ballet, concert music, and all things science fiction. An avid opera enthusiast, he had a subscription to the Metropolitan Opera for decades. He enjoyed photography, astronomy, botany, history, travel, and spending time in nature. He was a horror movie buff and belonged to the Dracula Society, regularly contributing articles to its newsletter, The Transfusion.

Above all, Bob loved being with his family. He was a devoted father and a hopeless romantic. His 65-year relationship with Nancy Wheeler, his partner and wife of 65 years, was a love story for the ages. They began dating in high school, were married in 1967, and went on to raise four loving children.

Bob is survived by his wife, Nancy Wheeler (Whiting, NJ); his four children, Sharon Pedulla (Whiting, NJ), Teri Lambert (Kona, HI), Demian Wheeler (Lino Lakes, MN), and Matthew Wheeler (Jackson, NJ); his three children-in-law, Richard Pedulla (Whiting, NJ), Victoria Wheeler (Lino Lakes, MN), and Jenna Wheeler (Jackson, NJ); his five grandchildren, Casey Pedulla (Roxbury, NJ), PJ Lambert (Kona, HI), O’Hara Lambert (Kona, HI), Riley Lambert (Kona, HI), and Shailer Wheeler (Lino Lakes, MN); and his siblings, Patricia Frascone (Hernando Beach, FL) and Richard Wheeler (Manahawkin, NJ). He is predeceased by his parents, Robert and Elizabeth Wheeler, and his sister, Kathleen Oaks.

A celebration of life for Bob will be held Saturday, July 26, 2025 beginning with Military Honors at 11:00 AM at Anderson & Campbell Funeral Home, 115 Lacey Road, Whiting, NJ 08759. The family will begin gathering at 10:30 AM.

Bob had a kind, generous, and compassionate heart and volunteered at the Salvation Army. So, in lieu of flowers, please make a donation to your favorite charity.