Elsie M. Wheeler

Elsie M. Wheeler “beloved mother, grandmother, wife & sisterâ€

SHINGLEHOUSE, PA---Elsie M. Wheeler, 87, of Shinglehouse, passed away Wednesday (April 11, 2012) at Sweden Valley Manor, Coudersport, after a long illness.

Born January 15, 1925 in Eldred, she was a daughter of Glenn and Mima Hubbard Appleby. She was the last living child out of 13 children. On December 24, 1944 in Shinglehouse, she married Homer L. Wheeler, Jr., who died on November 21, 1989. They raised 7 children together.

Mrs. Wheeler attended school in Eldred. She worked at the former Eldred Munitions plant during World War II and later worked at Acme Electric in Cuba, NY.

She was a lifetime member of the former Shinglehouse Firemen’s Ladies Auxiliary, a member of the Allegany County Ladies Firemen’s Auxiliary, and a member of the Tri-County Ladies Firemen’s Auxiliary. She enjoyed her flowers, garden, and crocheting, but more than that she was a wife, mother, and grandmother.

Surviving are three sons, Barry L. (Nora) Wheeler, Sr. of Bolivar, NY, Danny M. Wheeler of Shinglehouse, and Howard M. (Jan) Wheeler of Ashville, NY; two daughters, Kimberly (Rod) Dickerson of Shinglehouse and Sandy (Ryan) Welty of Clinton, Utah; a son-in-law, Donald L. Serkleski of Shinglehouse; nineteen grandchildren, Donnie (Roxie) Serkleski, Donna (Phil) Lingenfelter, Connie Serkleski, Julie Serkleski, Barry L. Wheeler, Jr., Sherry Stephens, Teresa Wheeler, Daytona Wheeler, Howard M. Wheeler, Jr., Justin (Jessica) Wheeler, Jennie Wheeler, Melissa (Jim) Fuller, Beth (Pat) Jones, Danelle Tompkins, JR (Amber) Tompkins, Erin Dickerson, Hillari Dickerson, Delsie Drake, Tyler Welty; four step-grandchildren, Jamie Bessey, Julianne Bessey, Tim Wilson, and Tom Wilson; twenty-seven great-grandchildren, newest one born April 10, 2012; and several nieces and nephews.

In addition to her parents and husband, Mrs. Wheeler was predeceased by two daughters, Penny L. Tompkins, who died on December 1, 2008 and Mary Ann Serkleski, who died on December 26, 2009; and twelve siblings, Lawrence, Gertrude, Herbert, Genevieve, Doris, Raymond, Maynard, Vincent, Paul, Harold, Kenneth, and Robert.

Friends may call on Friday from 2 to 4 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. at the Virgil L. Howard Funeral Home, 118 South Union Street, Shinglehouse, PA where funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. on Saturday, April 14, 2012. The Rev. Russell J. Horning, pastor of the First Baptist Church, Shinglehouse, and the Rev. Becky L. Edwards, pastor of Chrystal United Methodist Church, will officiate. Burial will be in Maple Grove Cemetery, Shinglehouse.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Shinglehouse Volunteer Ambulance Association, PO Box 98, Shinglehouse, PA 16748.