Claude Richard Wheeler |
| Posted 2009-08-10 by Pat Wilson |
| The Arizona Republic, Phoenix, Arizona September 18, 2002 Claude Richard Wheeler, 71, passed away September 7, 2002. He was a native Arizonan, born and raised in Tucson. He attended the University of Arizona on scholarships in both football and baseball and graduated with degrees in Mining and Metallurgical Engineering. He also served as the president of the Sigma Chi fraternity and as captain of the baseball team. Claude had many interests but none as great as his lifelong love for baseball. Between college semesters he played semi-pro ball in Calgary, Ontario, and when he served in the US Army in the Panama Canal Zone for two years he played on the Army's Special Services baseball team. He spent twelve years coaching Little League and American Legion teams for Tavan, Ingleside and Arcadia schools. When the teams were picked, he was the coach who always chose the boys no one else wanted and he invariably molded them into winners. He will be remembered for teaching, encouraging and leading these kids to many championships. He taught them to love the game, play fair and play to win "just for the fun of it." He also was an A rated tennis player and a pretty darn good golfer. Claude was a gifted engineer, developing several patented processes for sophisticated metal coatings. His career in engineering management spanned over thirty-five years at Motorola, AirResearch and Pratt and Whitney. He was a religious man who participated in several churches in many ways - singing in the choir, teaching Bible classes and conducting services. Claude was a thoughtful and loyal husband, father, companion and friend. He was preceded in death by his parents Ray and Gladys Wheeler, brothers David and Jim Wheeler (a fighter pilot who was the first Arizonan killed in Vietnam), and his oldest son Mark Richard Wheeler. He is survived by his loving companion of more than 20 years Cindy Docktor, his son Scott and daughter-in-law Joia Wheeler, daughter Jodi Wheeler, granddaughter Nicole Wheeler, extended family members Gloria and David Holden, Eloise Rinker, and many friends too numerous to mention. Services were held Saturday, September 21, 2002 at Scottsdale Bible Chapel, 7901 E. Shea Blvd. (Three blocks East of the Church.) Contributions may be made in honor of Claude to Send a Child to Baseball Camp through the Arizona Diamondbacks Charities. See Also: Paradise Memorial Gardens Cemetery |
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