Arthur E. Wheeler

Arthur E. Wheeler, 92, of Winter Street in Peterborough died Tuesday, September 16, 2008 at his residence after a period of failing health.

He was born on August 6, 1916 in Lynn, MA, son ofDr. Ernest and Ernestine (Bouchard) Wheeler. He was a 1934 graduate of Concord High School in Concord, NH, and a 1943 graduate of the New England Institute of Anatomyand Embalming in Boston. He then served in the United States Navy during World War II.


In 1946Mr. Wheeler moved with his family to Peterborough where he managed the Jellison Funeral Home until 1951 when he purchased it. He served countless families in the Peterborough area with kindness and compassion until he retired in 1982. Since his retirement,Mr. Wheeler has maintained his Funeral Directors licenseand continued to do the work he loved so much with the Cournoyer Funeral Home Cremation Center in Jaffrey untilrecently when his health prevented it.


Because the nature ofMr. Wheeler'sprofession required him to be available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and in keeping with his calling to public service,he also owned and operated one of the two private ambulance services in the Town of Peterborough until the Fire Department took it over in 1972. His service to the townspeople would not end there, however, as he and his wife Margery would continue to answer the fire telephones, civil defense telephones and also answered weekend calls for one of the local physicians. In addition to sounding the fire alarm in Peterborough,he also blew the noon whistle just as the WBZ radio station signaled the exact time, and many residents recall setting their watches by it knowing his care and attention to accuracy.


In his spare time,Mr. Wheeler found many more ways to be active in his community. He was a Past-President of the Peterborough Rotary Club, Past-Commander of the Cheney-Armstrong American Legion Post #5 in Peterborough, a member of the Altemont Lodge #26 F AM of Peterborough, the Amoskeag Veterans and the Peterborough Historical Society, a cemetery trustee for many years as well as a trustee of the former Peterborough Savings Bank. He was a member of the Union Congregational Church of Peterborough and belonged to the New Hampshire Funeral Directors Association as well as the National Funeral Directors Association.


Mr. Wheeler loved sports andplayed on the Peterborough Town Softball team for many years as well as having coached several of the Peterborough Little League teams. He alsowasthe proud sponsor ofanAdultSoftballLeagueteam -Wheelers Whirlwinds.


Arthur was preceded in death by his sister, Berenice Ormsbee.


He is survived by his wife of 72 years, Margery (Jewell) Wheeler of Peterborough; his daughter Bonnie and her husband Kenneth Christian of Peterborough; 2 granddaughters, Kari Christian of Peterborough and Lori and her husband William Bailey of Kennett Square, PA; 2 great grandchildren, Ryan and Emma Bailey of Kennett Square, PA; a brother Chester L. Wheeler of Concord, NH and many Nieces, Nephews, Cousins and close friends.

Memorial Contributions may be made in Mr. Wheelers name to Monadnock WorkSource, PO Box 28, Peterborough, NH 03458

Burial will be private and at the convenience of the family

At Mr. Wheelers request, there will be no calling hours.

A Memorial Service will be held at the Union Congregational Church, 33 Concord Street in Peterborough on Friday, September 19, 2008 at 2:00PM. Rev. Polly Shamy, Pastor, will officiate.