William Wheeler

Waynesville, William Albert "Al" Wheeler, Sr., age 77, of 329 Belleview Road, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, April 23, 2008 at Memorial Mission Hospital after an extended illness. A native of Toccoa, Georgia, he lived most of his life in Haywood County. He was the son of the late Clifton and Eliza Sims Wheeler. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by three brothers, one sister, and two great grandchildren. He retired from Champion International and later worked at Ingles Supermarket in Waynesville. Al was very community minded and had a great sense of humor. He founded the first black Lions Club and served on the Board of Directors of Haywood County Social Services, First Citizens Bank, and Waynesville Recreation Department, and also helped integrate the Strand Theatre. He was an active member of the Waynesville Seventh Day Adventist Church where he served as an elder. He is survived by his wife of 57 years, Nancy Lee Wheeler; two sons, Bill Wheeler, Jr. and his wife, A.B. of Boonville, NC and Gregory Wheeler of Asheville; two daughters, Temprell Cannon and her husband, Richard, of Waynesville and Kymbraly Cox and her husband, Michael, of Raleigh; 5 grandchildren, Chris, Vandi, Ashlee, Fitz, and Cameron; 2 stepgrandchildren, Jennifer and Josh; 16 great grandchildren and two on the way; several nieces and nephews and a host of special friends. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, April 28, 2008 in the Waynesville chapel of Wells Funeral Home with Pastor Ed Couser and Elder Brian Myers officiating. Entombment will be at Garrett-Hillcrest Memorial Park Mausoleum. The family will receive friends from 6:00 until 9:00 p.m. on Saturday, April 26, 2008 at Wells Funeral Home of Waynesville. Memorials may be made to the American Lung Association, 3801 Lake Boone Trail, Suite 190, Raleigh, NC 27607.

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