Evalyn F (Paul) Wheeler
2/3/22 - 4/3/21
After 99 years of putting her mark on this world, Evalyn passed away peacefully in her sleep on April 3rd, 2021, an iconic date we won’t forget.
Born in Norwich NY, raised in Oxford NY with a will to travel the world, she lived in NY City for a short time before joining the Army which took her to her most noted places, Alabama, and New Guinea. She absolutely loved the hot weather, making new friends and conjuring up trouble when it was warranted. She met her late husband William P Wheeler while overseas during WWII. The stories she would tell always held a captive audience and she was known for telling it like it is, whether you wanted to hear it or not.
When Evalyn and Bill returned to the states after the war they quickly married in Oxford NY on February 23rd, 1946 and decided to move to Massachusetts where Bill was from to start their family. Six of their beloved children were born in MA and in true New England style called her Mum. The Wheeler’s moved their family back to Oxford NY in 1957 where they completed their family when they had their seventh and final child, a sweet baby boy.
Evalyn was an excellent seamstress and was known to make handmade clothes for her family both out of necessity and love of the craft. She worked in the corset factory and the shoe factory for a number of years as a seamstress before exclusively joining Bill in his cleaning business, Wheeler Enterprises. Aside from family, she also had a love of houseplants, gardening, strong black coffee and attributed her age to eating 1 piece of dark chocolate every day.
She was predeceased by her Husband William P. Wheeler and two beautiful daughters, Robin L. Hitt and Dale F. Larsen. She is survived by her son Gary (Ann) Wheeler of Norwich NY, daughter Lynne Walker of Jacksonville, NC, son in law Doug Hitt, daughter Dawn Wheeler (JR Leonhardt) of Newark, CA, daughter Kristin Wheeler of Norwich NY and son Joel (Kerin) Wheeler of Santa Maria, CA. She is also survived by 13 grandchildren, 2 step grandchildren, 19 great grandchildren (plus 1 on the way!), 7 step great grandchildren, and 1 great-great granddaughter. Evalyn always looked forward to a late July/early August family reunion where she loved seeing everyone that could make it back home for the celebration as well as special friends that she considered family. Her favorite was meeting all of the new additions to our family!
Funeral Services has been entrusted to Behe Funeral Home Inc. 21 Main Street, Oxford NY, 13830. Friends and family are invited to a grave side funeral service on Friday, April 9, 2021 at 11:00 AM in the Riverview Cemetery in Oxford with Pastor Richard Howard officiating. Friends and family may share memories and condolences by visiting www.behefuneralhome.com