Obituary of Edwin Wallace Wheeler, Sr.

Edwin Wallace Wheeler, Sr.

September 25, 1936 ~ December 10, 2017

            While we cannot hope to capture all that our dad, (husband, brother, grandpa, uncle, and true friend) was to each of us, this is our most gallant attempt to put words to the page and tell you what a “stirring testament to God’s amazing grace” that he, Bud, was for all of us. Edwin Wallace Wheeler, “Bud,” was born in the small town of Corning, California to Edward Allen “Ted” and Geneva “Jennie” Wheeler September 25^th 1936. He was the middle of 3 brothers, Edward Allen Jr. and Ronald Dwayne. Bud spent part of his childhood with his family in Mt. Shasta, and they later moved to Nampa, Idaho, where Ted wanted his boys to attend a Christian school. Shortly after moving to Nampa, Ted got sick and died leaving Jennie to raise 3 boys with the help of their grandparents. Though tragedy had struck the family, it did not dampen the spirits of these 3 boys, who went forward to terrorize Nampa Christian High School, which was at the time a part of Northwest Nazarene College.

            After finishing school at Nampa Christian, Bud and a friend made their way to sunny Southern California to make their fortunes. Bud’s big fortune-hunter plan began with flipping burgers for Bob’s Big Boy in Pasadena, California and ended with hitting the jackpot in Las Vegas when he met Beth Henley. They were married in January 1956 at Las Vegas First Church of the Nazarene, where Bud had first seen Beth. Edwin Wallace Jr. joined Beth and Bud in October of that same year, followed by Katherine Nylene in November 1957, Carol Elizabeth in December 1958, and James Allen in December of 1960. Bud worked several jobs those early years, delivering furniture and appliances for Gragson’s Furniture and Charleston TV and Appliance until he began managing Apex TV and Appliance. Finally Bud became his own boss, and with his friend and partner, Dwayne Frank, opened Desert TV and Appliance on Las Vegas Blvd. Eventually, they moved to Maryland Square Shopping Center. Desert TV and Appliance became the non-human last child of the family. The two great loves of Bud’s life, outside of the family, were Desert TV and Appliance and that great big family of God known as the Church.

            Family was always a number one priority for Bud from the very beginning to the very end. Bud and Beth shared 62 years together and have been an amazing model of love, sacrifice and commitment for a lifetime. Though Beth is/was his first love, Bud, along with Beth, fell in love with each new member of the family as the family expanded blessing them with in-law children, grandchildren, more in-laws and great-grandchildren. Bud is survived by his wife, Beth; brother, Ron Wheeler; sister-in-law and husband, Frank and Nylene McDonald; sons and daughters-in-law, Ed and Charla Wheeler, Jim and June Wheeler; daughters and son in law, Gene and Kathy Iwami, and Carol Wheeler; grandchildren and their spouses, Chaconne “Connie” and David Blastock, Eddie (the III) and Robin Wheeler, Katrina Wheeler, Andrew and Ali Wheeler, and Jordan and Trina Iwami; and great-grandchildren, Macy Wheeler, Judah Wheeler, Ellie Iwami, and Asher Blastock; along with many loving nieces and nephews and their many children and grandchildren.

            Bud was a generous man of integrity. Giving was a life-style for Bud, not a tax deduction or an obligation to meet. Bud had the heart of Jesus—he could really SEE people and notice the needs and had the heart to meet those needs. Sometimes it was a scooter or motorbike for a missionary in South America, sometimes it was a meal and a teddy bear, and sometimes it was an item from Desert TV or a wad of cash. Often Bud’s office at Desert TV and Appliance was a safe haven for the hurting or wounded or needy. Never did they go away without help, whether financial, or spiritual, or emotional support. He spent hours and hours at Desert TV and Appliance, not only building an appliance store, but also listening and counseling others and employing a variety of unique and colorful individuals!

            The life of the Church was a significant part of Bud’s life. The legacy of faith in Jesus Christ is one that goes back in the Wheeler and Henley families for generations. Bud was indeed a willing servant and wise steward of God’s vast resources. In fact, only days before he died, he commented that his “Father owned the cattle on a thousand hills and that He would and does care for us.” Bud and Beth were both very active in Las Vegas First Church of the Nazarene; they participated in numerous activities and events, taught several Sunday school classes and Bible studies and for several years were entrusted with the teenagers of the church. Bud was a member of his local church board for much of his life and served on the boards of Point Loma Nazarene University, the District Advisory Boards for Nevada-Utah and Arizona Districts, and the board of ANLI (Arizona Nazarene Lands, Inc.) This legacy of service and stewardship in the church has been a blessing to many of us, and we will forever endeavor to follow in his footsteps as he followed in the footsteps of Jesus.

            After Desert TV and Appliance was dissolved, Bud’s ventures focused more on developing new companies. All of these adventures and endeavors were the means by which Bud could make a positive impact on the lives of others. His drive to make money was strongly connected to his desire to provide and meet the needs of others in order to make the world a better place. Many of his “gifts” were unmarked and unnoted. He often gave in secret, and we may never know the impact of some of those gifts.

            The physical challenges Bud faced in his last few years never brought him cause to complain. Through pain and suffering he kept a joyful, thankful heart and his great sense of humor! When asked how he was doing or feeling, he would ALWAYS reply that he was good or great! One of his favorite responses lately was, “Better to be on this side of the grass.” Life takes many turns and curves that we cannot predict, but the one constant is that we are never alone. When asked by the sweet little lady doctor what was most important to him as we discussed together his final options, Bud’s response was strong and sure, “My family here with me, and being at peace with God.” Though it was and is and will probably always be an ache in our hearts to say goodbye to such a man, we have this promise that it is not the end of our lives with Bud, but the beginning of a new life for him without pain, full of life and breath and being face to face with Jesus. And there is no fear in this, as Bud (Dad) so clearly stated when Carol prayed that he would not be “scared.” As the Bible says, “But we have this treasure in precious earthen vessels that the grandeur and surpassing greatness of the power will be from God and not from ourselves.”  We are confident that Bud has finished the race, that God used his earthen vessel to enrich our lives, and that we will meet him again when we all see Jesus face to face.

Donations can be made in Bud’s name to:

Extra Mile Student Center, P.O. Box 652, Grandview, WA 98930