Randy Wheeler
Age - 70
November 28, 2023
Randy Wheeler, Middleburg, FL Randy Wheeler, 70 years of Middleburg, FL, hometown of Fairchance, Pa. died on Wednesday, November 22, 2023. He was born February 18, 1953 in Uniontown, Pa. the son of the late Leonard and Mildred Teets Wheeler. Randy joined the Navy soon after graduating from high school in 1971 and completed boot camp at Naval Recruit Training Center, Great Lakes, Illinois. He became an Aviation Support Equipment Technician (AS) and fully embraced the motto "No air support without ground support. " He served as a leader in a variety of roles and at a number of duty stations while rising to the rank of Senior Chief Petty Officer (E8). His assignments included the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS Forrestal (CV-59), the flight line of VP-16 which was a P-3 aircraft squadron in Brunswick Maine, and the Support Equipment shop at the Aviation Intermediate Maintenance Department (AIMD) at Cecil Field, Florida. Aboard USS Lexington (CVT-16), he was proud of his service as the ship's Safety Chief Petty Officer, a critical role for this aircraft carrier whose mission was to train brand new Naval aviators. During the first Gulf war, he served as an advisor to the Commander of a Navy helicopter wing at Naval Station Mayport, Florida. Among his many accomplishments, he was instrumental in obtaining body armor to keep helicopter flight crews safe in combat. As an inspector on the aviation maintenance management team (AMMT) in Patuxent River Maryland, he traveled around the country, ensuring that all Navy, Marine, and contractor flying commands were conducting maintenance safely. Following this tour, Senior Chief Petty Officer Wheeler retired from active duty in 1997, after 26 years in uniform. He soon returned to government service as a Department of the Navy civilian at the Support Equipment Rework Facility in Patuxent River. After supporting the Navy and Marine Corps for another 16 years in this role, he retired again after a total of 40 years of service to his country. Randy is survived by his wife of 24 years, Lynn Stroth Wheeler; sons, Randy Wheeler and Douglas Wheeler; grandchildren, Trinity Wheeler, Austin Wheeler, Gavin Wheeler and Brayden Wheeler; great grandchildren, Evelyn Nieves and Mason Wheeler; sister, Barbara Yazell and many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. The family will receive friends and family in the Dean C. Whitmarsh Funeral Home, 134 West Church Street, Fairchance, Pa. on Friday, December 1, 2023 from 11:00 a. m. until 2:00 p. m. The funeral service will begin at 2:00 p. m. with Pastor Bryan Kelley officiating. Interment with Military Rites being accorded will follow in American Legion Post 278 Veterans Cemetery, Fairchance, Pa.
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