Ethelyn Wheeler

Ethelyn Bernice "Bea" Wheeler, age 85, of Trufant, passed away Tuesday, January 27, 2015 at Spectrum Health-United Hospital in Greenville, with her loving family at her bedside. The daughter of Richard & Ethelyn (Kocher) Sutherland, she was born on December 27, 1929 in Howard City. On January 21, 1950, she married Richard G. Wheeler in the Justice of the Peace's living room in Coral (who happened to be Richard's grandfather). For over 30 years they made their home in Grand Rapids where they raised five children and Bea worked as a chairside dental assistant and secretary for Dr. Robert Barber, D.D.S., while Richard served as a captain on the Grand Rapids Fire Department. In retirement they made their home in Trufant, were members of the Cowden Lake Christian Church and the Order of the Eastern Star Trufant Chapter No. 383, and Bea was a life member of the Ladies Auxiliary of the Veterans of Foreign Wars post in Howard City. She was preceded in death by her parents; three brothers, Junior, Robert, and Donnie Sutherland; and a sister, Maxine Wheeler. Surviving are her husband of 65 years, Richard G. Wheeler of Trufant; their five children, Jim & Nanette Wheeler of Grand Rapids, Bradford Robert & Linda Wheeler of Rockford, Ron & Sandra Wheeler of Grand Rapids, Donald Wheeler of Trufant, and Valerie & Richard Smith of Grand Rapids; a brother, Roger Sutherland; eleven grandchildren; fifteen great grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews. Visitation is from 4-8 p.m. on Friday at Christiansen Cremation & Funeral Care, 511 S. Franklin Street, Greenville, with Eastern Star rites beginning at 7:00 p.m. on Friday. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday at Cowden Lake Christian Church, 4510 Gravel Ridge Road, Coral, with Pastor Bob Oliveira officiating. Private interment in Coral Cemetery will take place in the spring. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Ethelyn Wheeler, please visit our flower store.