Lois Gertrude Wheeler

Lois Gertrude Wheeler, 79, of Abilene was reunited with her Lord and Savior on October 24, 2017, in Merkel, Texas. She was among her family and passed after a long fight against Alzheimer’s disease.

Lois was born in Worchester, Massachusetts, to parents Robert and Cora Woodin on July 15, 1938. She had 2 brothers, Paul Woodin and Wayne Woodin. She married Harry H. “Corky” Wheeler on April 28, 1956. Of that union were born four daughters. She put her education on hold to raise her family, but proudly received her GED in 2003. She was retired, having served as a cashier for M-System and later Lawrence Brothers. She was a very active member of Grace Lutheran Church and served on numerous boards and committees in the church, as well as in the choir. She dedicated her life to tirelessly helping those who needed help, and was honored by the Abilene Reporter-News as an every-day hero in 2013 for her efforts.

Lois was preceded in death by her parents; her husband of 54 years Harry Wheeler; her brother Paul Woodin; and a son-in-law R.D. Drake.

She is survived by her daughters: Cora Lane Nieves, Cheryl Lynne Drake, Penny Diane Alves and husband Scott, and Phyllis Marcia Martinez and husband Paul. She also had 9 grandchildren: Michael, Matthew and wife Kursten, Amanda, Josh, Justin and wife Christina, Holly and husband Chris, Chris, Tiffany and husband Codey and Mark; and was the proud great-grandmother to 17 children.  Survivors also include a brother Wayne Woodin and wife Tina.

Visitation will be 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, October 26th, at The Hamil Family Funeral Home, 6449 Buffalo Gap Road, Abilene. Services will be Friday, October 27th, at 2:00 p.m. at The Hamil Family Funeral Home Chapel followed by interment at Elliott-Hamil Garden of Memories Cemetery, 5701 Highway 277 South in Abilene. Her grandsons will serve as pallbearers with her sons-in-law serving as honorary pallbearers.

Her family would like to thank Hendrick Hospice for their compassionate care, and requests that memorials be made to Hendrick Hospice Care, Grace Lutheran Church or Alzheimers Association of Texas.