CLIFTON M. WHEELER

Clifton M. Wheeler, 84, of Panama City, Fl was born March 31, 1928 in Bastrop, La., and passed away Tuesday, November 27, 2012. He was a member of First Baptist Church Panama City. He completed a tour in the United States Air Force as well as attended college at the University of Alabama, Mobile. He also worked for the United States Air Force as a civilian Logistics Weapons Officer. During that time he traveled and worked in California, Alabama, Germany, North Africa and finally settled in Fairborn, Ohio at Wright Patterson AFB where he retired in 1985 after 36 years of service. While in Fairborn he was very active in the local community. Cliff received the Second Annual Outstanding Public Servant Award June 1977 from WKEF Dayton channel 22. He acted as President of the American Cancer Society, Fairborn Ohio from Sept 1977 to August 1979, a Board member for Wright-Patt Credit Union from 1974 - 1977, President of the Fairborn Little League in 1980. He has also been an active member of the Shriners since 1952. He was raised to Master Mason in Mobile Alabama in 1952, member of the band from 1952 - 1957 and appointed Ambassador in 1965. He was demitted to Antioch Temple of Dayton Ohio where he was the secretary and treasurer, Vice President then President between 1974 to 1976. He became a Life Member of the Howard Lodge #69, Mobile Alabama in 1977. When he arrived in Panama City in 1994, he continued to remain active with the local Shaddai Shrine. He drove the van taking children and their families to the Shiner's Children's Hospital in Tampa, Fl. He volunteered each Tuesday and Thursday, eight hours each day for Shiner's BINGO. He held offices as President of the Hot Rods Unit and Vice President of the Hospitality Unit. He was Chairman of Transportation in 1996 at the Dixie Shrine Association convention and Chairman of food and banquet committee for the 1997 tennis tournament. Also while in Panama City he was an active member of the Bay County Sheriffs Office serving as a volunteer Deputy Sheriff working in the fingerprint department and assisting with patrol coverage at many local events. He was preceded in death by his son, Stephen Wheeler, mother Hazel Wheeler and father Clifton A. Wheeler. He is survived by his sister Joy Rhodes, wife of 59 years Maggie Wheeler, daughter Sharon Marra; daughter and son in-law Angela and Scott Jackson, son and daughter-in-law Clifton and Valerie Wheeler as well as grandchildren Zachary and Brenna McGuire, Christina Horne as well as great grandchildren. His family will receive friends at Wilson Funeral Home on Thursday from 3:30 - 6:00pm. Services will be held at Wilson Funeral Home on Friday at 2 p.m. with interment to follow at Evergreen Memorial Gardens. Pastor Chris Love will be officiating.
Serving as pallbearers will be his son, son-in-law and grandson. Honorary pallbearers will be members of the Shaddai Shrine Hot Rod organization.
In Lieu of usual remembrances, contributions may be made to The Shriners Childrens Hospital. Donations can be made out to Hospital Transportation Fund, and sent to Shaddi PO Box 16115, Panama City, Fl 32406 in remembrance of Clifton Wheeler. Donations may also be made to the American Cancer Society. His family would also like to say thank you to their new family at Covenant Hospice.
"God grant me the Serenity to accept the things I cannot Change, Courage to Change the things I Can and Wisdom to know the difference."

Wilson Funeral Home