Douglas L. Wheeler
- DOUGLAS LEIGH WHEELER, age 83, of Rarity Bay passed away on March 5, 2024, after a life well lived. He was born in Kansas City, Missouri on February 2, 1941, but grew up in Knoxville. Doug attended Baylor School in Chattanooga and was a graduate of Fulton High School class of 1958, where he was a letterman in track and golf. Doug earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from the University of Tennessee and became a member of the Phi Sigma Kappa fraternity.
He married Mitzi Anne Dickey in 1964. Doug served three years as a paratrooper with the 82nd Airborne Division at Ft. Bragg, North Carolina, and later in Okinawa and Vietnam. He spent nearly 20 years as a fast-food operations executive with several companies. After changing professions, he worked 17 years as a stockbroker in Seattle, Washington.
Over the years he lived in Atlanta, Tampa, Chicago, San Antonio, and Seattle. He served on the Board of the Hillsborough County Easter Seal Society, served on the Vestry of St. Mary’s Episcopal Church in Tampa, worked closely with the Metropolitan Ministries of Tampa by providing food for the homeless, was a sponsor and benefactor for Faith Children’s Home of Tampa, and was selected to the Bishop’s advisory staff of the S.W. Florida Diocese. While living in Seattle, Doug volunteered and taught cartoon art to inner-city school children.
After retiring, he returned to East Tennessee and lived in Rarity Bay. He enjoyed gourmet cooking with Mitzi, playing golf, and he was a fan of Tennessee football and Lady Vols basketball. Doug was always the most devoted and loving husband, father and beloved grandfather. He was loved and will be missed by his wife, Mitzi.
He is preceded in death by his father, James Frederick Wheeler; mother, Helen DeHart Wheeler; and brother, Ray Frederick Wheeler. He is survived by his wife of 59 years, Mitzi Anne Wheeler; sister, Barbara Ellen Brackett and husband, Rick Cole of Knoxville; daughter, Michelle Renee Taylor and husband, Scott of Falls Church, Virginia; daughter Mary Katherine Orcés and husband, Jack of Coral Springs, Florida; daughter Ginger Lynne Johnson and husband, Chuck of Glen Ellyn, Illinois; and grandchildren, Will Cunningham and wife, Katherine; Allison Cunningham and fiancé, Kevin Cronin; Jack Orcés and wife, Aurora; James Orcés, John Paul Orcés and Catherine Orcés; Evan Johnson and wife, Bethany; great-grandchildren Scarlett and Freddie Cunningham; sister-in-law, Marilyn Dickey Romeu of Atlanta, Georgia; nephews, Jake Griffy, David and Russell Brackett, Tyler Romeu and niece, Kristen Eggers and husband, Garret. There will be a celebration of life at a later date.
Click Funeral Home & Cremations - Tellico Village Chapel is serving the family of Douglas L. Wheeler. www.clickfuneralhome.com.