Birth date: Mar 8, 1921 Death date: Apr 9, 2018
Chester H. Wheatley, 97, of Thayer, KS passed away at his home on April 9, 2018. He was born on March 8, 1921 to Lester and Audrey (Neal) Wheatley in Derby, IN. Upon graduating from Tell City high school , Chester joined the Civil Read Obituary
He was amazing and beloved as well as his wonderful wife. Love you Chet and thank you for always being my pen pal.
My mom, Chet ad his wife Donnie had been close freinds since the late 60's when I was a kid. They were in and out of each other's houses, playing pitch, canasta and all sorts of card cames. The coffee pot was always on. Chet was like a second father to me, called on to get on me when I wasn't acting like mom thought i should, debating my opinion, and making me think. He was interesting with the driest sense of humor. After we moved to CA we only saw him on vacations, and he never changed. It was no surprise to read from others whose lives he has touched. He was always "The officer and the gentlemen". To you Chet, "May you be half way to heaven before the devil knows your gone."
The Neosho County Community College Foundation would like to extend our deepest sympathy to the family of Chester Wheatley. Mr. Wheatley was without a doubt one of the most interesting people I have had the priviledge to meet, in addition he was kind and generous. I will miss our dinners together in Thayer. He has and will continue to touch many lives at Neosho County Community College because of his generosity. Thank you Chester and rest in peace.
Chet, Donnie and Mike were a big part of our lives. My mom, Sarah Riggio, and Donnie were best friends, and Mike and I were involved, and friends til his death. Many evenings were spent at their house in Thayer playing cards, watching tv, listening to Mike play the piano, and just talking. Mom loved to give Chet bags of multi-color popcorn for his birthday, It wasn't til Donnie died that we realized that Chet was the one who wrote and sent us so many cards. I'm so sorry to hear of his passing, I learned so much from him. I miss the whole family.
Chester was my neighbor in Thayer when my kids were small. Him and his dog would always come to the edge of the fence and talk for some time to my son. He was a great man with lots of stories. Prayers to the family.
Mary Osborn (Showalter)
