Beryl Lee Wheeler Sr.

Beryl Lee Wheeler Sr., 83, of Lowell, Ark., passed away Sunday, April 1, 2012, at his home. Beryl was born on July 27, 1928, in Silver City, Iowa, a son of Thomas Wheeler and Ora Stapleton Wheeler. He married Betty Lou Bohannan on June 4, 1949, in Springdale, Ark., celebrating 62 years of marriage. Beryl served in the U.S. Army during WW II and during the Japanese Occupation. After the war, he and Betty lived in California before returning to Arkansas, where they owned and operated the Wheeler Furniture and Grocery Store in Springdale. He was a member of the VFW, loved hunting and fishing and was an active member of the Gospel Tabernacle in Springdale. He is survived by his wife Betty of the home; one son, Beryl L. "Butch" Wheeler Jr. of Lowell; two daughters, Jeanette and husband, James Tripp of Lutz, Fla., and Cheryl Lynn and husband, Bill Sides, of Lowell; "adopted" daughter, Carolyn James of Lowell; four sisters, Nettie Moore of Roseville, Calif., Marilyn Adams, Darlene Wheeler and Sandy Wheeler, all of Woodland, Calif.; 11 grandchildren; and 26 great- grandchildren. Beryl was preceded in death by two sisters, Geraldine Kraus and Nola Dean Wheeler; and three brothers, Louis Stapleton, Bill Wheeler and Robert Wheeler. Funeral service will be held on Friday, April 6, 2012, at 2 p.m. at the Gospel Tabernacle. The Rev. Bob Main will officiate the service with burial being held at the Bluff Cemetery under the direction of the Backstrom-Pyeatte Funeral Home of Springdale. Visitation will be held at the funeral home on Thursday, April 5, 2012, from 6 to 8 p.m. Online guestbook at www.backstrom-pyeatte.com.