Richard Wheeler (Dick)

Richard Gordon Wheeler (Dick) 78 of Glendale, Arizona went to be with the Lord on October 26, 2016 at the Hospice of the Valley, Surprise Arizona. Dick was born June 14, 1938 in Flagstaff Arizona to the late Gordon Everett Wheeler and Mary Hinds. He is predeceased by his stepfather Wesley Campbell, his wife Lora Wheeler, siblings Mona Wade, Alice Wilson and Sam Osterfield. He is survived by his sons, Greg Wheeler, Mark Wheeler (Karen) and Blaine Wheeler (Joann), stepchildren Ken Sutton (Kelley) and Kathryn Sutton, 10 grandchildren, 13 great grandchildren and many nephews and nieces that he loved very much. Dick worked at ADOT (Arizona Dept. of Transportation), he started with the Arizona Highway Division in 1956 working on various crews on construction projects, surveying, material testing, and inspections in the Flagstaff area. He relocated to Phoenix in 1960 working on various construction projects from inspections to running the materials lab. In 1973 he transferred to the Permits and Utilities Section where he worked until he retired in 1989 as a Supervisor with 33 years of service. After retiring he started having lunch with a few other ADOT retires that has grown to 180 members and is known as the ADOT Retiree Ol’ Farts Group. He was an active member of the VCCA Car Club and enjoyed running the Parts Swap for them. He ran the pit gate at Manzanita Speedway for 5 years. He was also a baseball coach to his 3 sons and loved supporting his grandchildren in their sports and activities. His family meant the world to him and he was loved and will be missed by many. A memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, November 12, 2016 with a reception to follow at Menke Funeral & Cremation Center, 12420 N. 103rd Ave., Sun City, AZ.