Tom was born on April 28, 1935, in Fountain Run, Kentucky, the son of the late Sydney and Sarah (McDonald) Wheeler.
Tom grew up working on the family farm and attended a one room country schoolhouse. He learned how to plaster with his Dad, and baled a lot of hay. He preached over the many years from the time he was a teenager until he was in his seventies. In Kentucky, Tennessee, Florida, West Virginia, Ohio, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Indiana, Alabama, and many other places. He also worked at Cape Canaveral, Sears, and rebuilt engines in an Orlando mechanics shop. Tom also loved to fish.
He married Sylvia Leigh Grayson on January 22, 1957, and she preceded him in death on February 19, 1987. On January 1, 1988, he married Francis Mildred Blanks, and she preceded him in death on January 14, 2014.
He is survived by his children, Diane Pullum (Steve), Cheryl Payne (Chris), Steve Blanks (Linda) and Linda Sebree (Charles “Skip”); a brother, Frank Wheeler (Suzanne); 9 grandchildren, Jon (Leila), Kelly, Amber, John (Jessica), Seth (Amanda), Mark (Emily), Joshua (Heidi), Jared (Hallie), and Steven (Whitney); 23 great-grandchildren, Zack, Kameron, Jonah, Cora, Corbyn, Mason, Landon, Brianna (Kevin), James (Tabitha), Raleigh, Tucker, Tripp, Lillian, Pierce, Cora, Taylor, Ella, Jack, Luke, Caleb, Daniel, Ruth, Hudson, and one on the way; and two great-great grandchildren, Oliver and Immanuel.
Visitation will be held from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. on Sunday, February 26, 2023 at Raven Choate Robinson Funeral Home, 1202 W. Kem Road, Marion, Indiana. Visitation will also be held from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m. on Monday, February 27, 2023 in the funeral home. Services will begin at 11:00 a.m. with Evangelist Skip Sebree officiating.
Burial will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Wednesday, March 1, 2023 in Fountain Run Cemetery, 205 Eaton Lane, Fountain Run, Kentucky.
Memorial contributions can be made the Alzheimer’s Association, 50 91st Street, Suite 100, Indianapolis, Indiana 46240; or to the Dementia Society of America, P.O. Box 600, Doylestown, PA 18901.
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