O.L. Wheeler

Osborn Lee Wheeler was born September 8, 1922, first of the eight children of Minnie and Vernie Wheeler.  Lee was born in Queen City, Missouri in the home of his grandparents, Letitia and O. M. Crapson.  He attended elementary school in Missouri and Iowa, graduating from Queen City, Missouri, High School in 1939.  In the fall of 1938 he began working, after school, for The Queen City Monitor-Leader—the beginning of a career in printing that he would follow the rest of his life, with time out during WWII.  In the fall of 1940 he enlisted in the Marines, the first big hill, and was in one of the first units to sail after WWII, in the Pacific started, sailing January 6, 1942.  After jungle training on Samoa his unit reinforced the Marines in the Battle of Guadalcanal where he acquired a galloping case of malaria as well as malnutrition and dysentery and returned to the USA for rehab.  After several months in the hospital and retraining he returned to the Pacific area for the Battle of Okinawa and his second wound, both minor.  On Guam training for the next battle, the invasion of Japan - Japan surrendered and he was homeward bound - he thought.  Only high point reservists, no regulars, were going home.

Then came the news, they were going to China - the fulfillment of a life-long dream for Lee.  He was present at the Japanese surrender in the Tsingtao, China area.  Then 500 miles north to guard the Tientsin-Chinwangtao Railroad.  Back in the USA and discharged in February 1947.

As printer/foreman he worked for several Kansas weekly newspapers.  He accepted Christ and was baptized in 1953, joining the Methodist Church.  He married the “love of his life,” Charline Snodgrass of Sabetha, Kansas in 1955.  They immediately moved to Monroe, North Carolina, and established Wheeler Printing.  After several years that company was sold and Crayton Printing Co. in Charlotte North Carolina, was purchased.  In 1994 he sold Crayton Printing Co, and “retired” but stayed another twenty years as a consultant.  Charline passed away in 2006.

At the age of 85 he bought a computer and discovered that he enjoyed writing.  About the same time he was reunited with a dear friend of his youth, Lorene Sees, later companion.  Under the heading “Out Behind the Woodshed” many articles appeared in The Schuyler County Times, as well as several books of memories, The move back to Missouri was made in 2015 to live with Brother Ben and wife Ann.  Due to a mmi stroke and failing eye sight he moved to the Scotland County Residential Care Facility in 2016.  Lorene once told him he had lived and adventuress life always looking for the other side of the hill.

Lee was a Life Member of the Marine Corps League and was wearing his Dress Blues as he ascended that last gentle slope and entered “Gods Heavenly Valley” to join his co-adventurers.

Lee passed away Monday,  July 17, 2023, in the Scotland County  Residential Care Facility.

Lee was preceded in death by his parents, his wife of fifty-one years, Charline, his brother and sisters, Anna Lou Caswell, Leticia McBee, Martha Vandle, Margaret Staples, Alice Miller and Vernie Wheeler, and also the dear friend of his youth and later loving companion,  Lorene Sees.

Lee is survived by a brother Ben Wheeler and wife Ann, and many nieces and nephews.

Funeral service will held at 11:00 a.m. Friday (July 21, 2023) at the Dooley Funeral Home with Pastor Ben Wheeler officiating.  Burial will be in Mount Hope Cemetery in Hiawatha, Kansas.

Visitation will be from 10:00 a.m. to time of service in the Dooley Funeral Home, Queen City, Missouri.

Arrangements in the care of Dooley Funeral Home; www.dooleyfh.com.