Retired Capt. Lawrence S. Wheeler II, age 80, passed away Jan. 2, 2021, at Holston Valley Medical Center.
He graduated from Charles City, Iowa, High School and was a graduate of Washburn University, Topeka, Kansas. He retired from the Kansas Department of Corrections.
Lawrence served in the Kansas Army National Guard from 1957 to 1978 and retired at the rank of captain. He was a Vietnam veteran.
He was a member of the National Guard Association, Veterans of Foreign Wars and served as Past District Commander in Kansas. He was a member of American Legion, Disabled American Veterans, Veterans of Vietnam War, Vietnam Veterans of America (Life Member), Associated Public Safety Communications Officers, American Radio Relay League (Past District Coordinator- Hays, Kansas), Amateur Radio Club (Past President Phillips County, Kansas), Lakeway Amateur Radio Club, Kingsport ARC and a member of the AARP.
Lawrence was preceded in death by his parents, Lawrence S. and Dorothy Wheeler of Kansas.
He is survived by his loving wife of 37 years, Janie; son, Lawrence III of Iowa; daughters, retired Sgt. Donna Wheeler and Ellen Diaz-Char'on of Kansas; sister, Janet Wheeler and partner Nelson of Missouri; brother, Robert Wheeler of Arizona; niece, Meredith Gauger-Cole and husband Tim; nephew, Wayne Gauger and wife Stephanie; grandsons, Nicholas and Toby Jones, Willie and Charlie Rice; and great grandchildren, Peyton, Michael, and Kyra Jones.
His wife wants to express special thank you to Ed Bradley, John Freitag, and Mike and Cathy Hughes for their friendship and love over the years. Also a thank you to Christina with Amedisys and Sarah and Angie, his nurses at Holston Valley Medical center.
Larry will lie in state at Christian-Sells Funeral Home, 1520 E. Main St., Rogersville, Tennessee, Thursday, Jan. 7, from 12 to 3 p.m. Military graveside service will be held Friday, Jan. 8, at Mountain Home VA Cemetery, 215 Heroes Drive, Mountain Home, Tennessee, at 1 p.m. If you plan to go to the graveside service, the family asks you to meet at the cemetery around 12:45 p.m. and please wear a mask.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the American Diabetes Association in his honor.
Online condolences may be sent at www.christiansells.com.