James Raleigh Wheeler
May 17, 1929 – August 4, 2015
Passed away peacefully at his home in San Rafael surrounded by his wife, daughters, the family dog and close family friends.
Known as Raleigh to family and Jim in the business world, he was born May 17, 1929 in Portland, OR, son of Audrey Ewing Bates (Colonel Grahame M. “Todd” Bates) and Joseph B. Wheeler. He was raised by his Mother, Grandmother Ethel Ewing, and Sister Hyacinth of the Dominican Nuns.
As a young child, Raleigh moved between Portland, San Francisco, Benicia, Larkspur, Los Angeles and Ohio attending several schools including St. Catherine’s Academy, the Larkspur Corte Madera School, St. Brigid’s school, graduating from St. Ignatius College Prep in San Francisco. After high school he attended City College and USF. Drafted in the US Army in 1951 he served honorably at Ft. Ord then on the frontline in the Korean War. In November 1952 he returned to marry Magdaline Theodorelos of San Francisco a neighborhood girl whom he met at 14 yrs. of age, his wife over 62 yrs. Early in their marriage they lived in San Francisco, settling back in Marin at the home they built in San Rafael in 1962. Shortly after he started Wheeler Plumbing, raised a family becoming an active member of Blessed Sacrament Parish.
Raleigh was an avid reader, a history buff and a world traveler always looking for a new adventure. Together with his wife, he traveled to over 50 countries, 6 continents, with the African continent at the top of his list. But it was his yearly camping trip to Yosemite with his family and his children’s friends that was his favorite adventure. Many memories were made in Yosemite including climbing Half Dome several times; packing in the high country of Tuolumne and in the 1930’s camping for a month at time with his grandmother.
Generous in time and support not only to his children but many of the neighborhood kids, he attended all their sporting events, readily gave advice, lived by and instilled a strong work ethic, hired those that needed work, assisted with their college tuition and in building their homes. His storytelling and sense of humor was appreciated by all that knew him.
Raleigh is survived by his wife Magdaline, daughters Elizabeth Wheeler Welch (Peter) and Sarah Wheeler. He was predeceased by his son Eric who died tragically in 1977. His brother J. Kelly Wheeler of Tiburon passed away on August 17, 2015.
The Rosary will be held at 5:00pm, Thursday, August 27, 2015 at Monte’s Chapel of the Hills, San Anselmo, CA. The Mass will be held at 11:00am, Friday, August 28, 2015 at Most Holy Rosary Chapel of St. Vincent’s School for Boys, One St. Vincent Drive, San Rafael. In lieu of flower donations in Raleigh’s memory may be made to Heartland Hospice or Guide Dogs for the Blind.
Assisted By Monte’s Chapel Of The Hills San Anselmo (415) 453-8440
Published by San Francisco Chronicle from Aug. 21 to Aug. 23, 2015.
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