Thelma I. Wheeler

Thelma I. Wheeler, 90, of Shelbyville died Saturday, November 24, 2007, at Ashford Place Health Campus. Born August 10, 1917, in Rush County, she was the daughter of James and Clara (Reed) Ficklin. She was raised by her aunt and uncle, Reuben and Maude (Reed) Reinhardt. She married John Kenneth Wheeler on June 11, 1941, and he preceded her in death on January 23, 2001. Survivors include her son, John (wife, Earlene) Wheeler of Waldron; daughters, Jane Helbing of Indianapolis, Mary Anne (husband, Greg) Tracy of Richmond, KY., and Pat (husband, Brian) Haehl of Shelbyville; grandchildren, Tim Helbing, Jennifer (husband, Craig) Smith, Christina (husband, Gregg) Qualls, Ryan Haehl, Amanda Haehl and Scott Tracy; and great-granddaughter, Haleigh Grace Qualls. She also was preceded in death by her parents; aunt and uncle; brother Oren Ficklin and Chester Ficklin; and sister, Helena Stine. Mrs. Wheeler was a lifelong Shelby County resident. She had been a teacher at Union Township, Marion Township, Waldron Elementary, Addison Elementary and Loper Elementary schools. She also taught kindergarten at St. Joseph School and private kindergartens in the early 1950s. She retired from Loper in 1985. Mrs. Wheeler graduated from Morristown High School in 1934, Indiana Central College in 1936 and Butler University in 1963. She was a member of St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church, St. Anne's Altar Society, A.A.U.W. and Shelby County Retired Teachers Association. Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at Freeman Family Funeral Homes, Carmony-Ewing Harrison Street Chapel, 819 S. Harrison St. Funeral services will be at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church, 4218 E. Michigan Road, Shelbyville, IN 46176, with the Rev. Paul Landwerlen officiating. Interment will be in St. Vincent Cemetery in Shelby County. Memorial contributions may be made to St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church, 4218 E. Michigan Road, Shelbyville, IN 46176; Shelbyville-Shelby County Public Library, 57 W. Broadway St., Shelbyville, IN 46176; or the donor's favorite charity.