NANCY PARK WHELESS
1924-2017
Our dear mother, Nancy Park Wheless, passed away peacefully into the arms of her Savior Jesus Christ on Thursday the 18th of May 2017.
A native Houstonian, Nancy was born the 18th of December 1924 to Dr. and Mrs. James Howard Park Jr. She attended McGregor Elementary, the Kinkaid School, and graduated from Lamar High School. Nancy graduated from the University of Texas where she made many life-long friendships in the Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority. While at UT, Nancy began corresponding with USAF pilot Meade Wheless, and after his service in World War II was complete, they wed. She began her married life with Meade building Marymeade Guest Ranch in Hunt, Texas. After the birth of their first child, they moved to Houston where Meade began his career in ranching and Nancy became involved in the Junior League and in raising a growing family. They eventually moved full time to Cinco Ranch, and many Houstonians have happy memories of the fishing, duck hunts, pigeon shoots and rice well swims that Nancy and Meade so graciously hosted. After many years, they returned to Houston and Nancy became an active volunteer in the community, especially enjoying her work with the River Oaks Garden Club, the board of the San Jacinto Monument, and the Open Door Mission. Nancy and Meade were members of the Houston Country Club and had many dear friends there. She was a devoted member of St. Luke’s Methodist Church, and she and Meade were recently recognized as the church’s longest married couple having been wed for 72 years. Nancy loved to travel, and she and Meade explored the globe in their later years. She was always game for adventure, be it scuba diving, trekking on safari, or fly-fishing in remote locales. She had a love for art, in particular Impressionism. She was happiest when surrounded by her family, whom she adored. Nancy maintained her remarkable memory all of her life. Many friends and family will remember the incredible speech that she delivered at her 90th birthday party.
Gracious and gentle, Nancy was always a lady. She loved sincerely and unconditionally, and was quick to share a kind word and an empathetic ear. Nancy knew and loved Jesus Christ and His love shone out through her to touch family, friends and neighbors. As Nancy’s health declined, her faith increased and sustained both her and us.
Nancy is predeceased by her parents and her brothers, Dr. David Riggs Park and James Howard Park III. She is survived by her husband, William Meade Wheless, Jr.; her sister, Patricia Park Neuhaus; her children, William Meade Wheless III and wife Laura, David Brownell Wheless and wife Annie, Robert Frederick Wheless and wife Laura, Nancy Wheless Zimmerman and husband Robert, and Patty Wheless Hoban and husband Richard. She will be dearly missed by her beloved grandchildren: Sarah Wheless Murrin and husband Phillip, William Meade Wheless IV and wife Laura, Laura Wheless Hilgers and husband Steve, Mary Kay Hunt and husband Thomas, David Brownell Wheless, Jr., William Claude Wheless, Nancy Elizabeth Wheless, Lloyd Marion Wheless, Stedman Meade Wheless, Hannah Caitlin Wheless, Elise Zimmerman Wright and husband Patrick, Adelaide Zimmerman Emanuele and husband Alex, William Meade Zimmerman, John Marcus Greer III, Madeline Meade Greer, and Mary Brownell Greer. She had sixteen great-grandchildren: Philip Murrin, Jr., Mary Elizabeth Murrin, Carolina Cuilty Murrin, Elizabeth Louise Wheless, William Meade Wheless V, John Wareing Wheless, Madeline May Wheless, Robert Overton Wheless, Abigail Laird Hilgers, Anna Clarie Hilgers, Marguerite Maude Hilgers, Sarah Elizabeth Hilgers, Matthew Thomas Hunt, Elizabeth Kathryn Hunt, Bodie Camden Wright and Maxwell Robert Emanuele. Nancy loved and rejoiced over each addition to her family.
The family would like to extend their deepest gratitude to the doctors, nurses and staff at St. Luke’s Hospital as well as the many caregivers who assisted Nancy. In particular, they would like to thank Dr. James Willerson, Dr. David Ott, Mae Thomas, Sheila Cortez, Linda Stallworth, Marilyn Dickson, LaDonna Williams, Catalina Arguello, Victor Garcia, and Amelia Escobedo.
Friends are cordially invited to greet the family and share memories of Nancy during a reception to be held from five o’clock in the afternoon until seven o’clock in the evening on Tuesday, the 23rd of May, at the River Oaks Country Club, 1600 River Oaks Boulevard in Houston.
Prior to a memorial service and a celebration of Nancy’s life, the family will have gathered for a private interment at Glenwood Cemetery in Houston.
The memorial service is to be conducted at half-past eleven o’clock in the morning on Wednesday, the 24th of May, in the sanctuary of St. Luke’s United Methodist Church, 3471 Westheimer Road in Houston, where Dr. Tom Pace, Senior Pastor, is to officiate.
Immediately following, all are once again invited to greet the family during a reception in the adjacent Fellowship Hall.
In lieu of customary remembrances, the family requests that anyone caring to make a donation in Nancy’s memory may be directed to St. Luke’s United Methodist Church, 3471 Westheimer Rd., Houston, TX, 77027.
“Her children rise up and call her blessed” – Proverbs 31:28