Darby Wheeler

Darby D. Wheeler, 83, of Hennessey, passed away Thursday, Dec. 14, 2023, in Oklahoma City.

Services were 11 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 20, at First Christian Church of Hennessey with Rev. Ish Engle officiating.

Maxine Helgeson served as the organist for the services.

Darby was born Nov. 4, 1940, on a farm near Lovell to Lloyd and Louise (Melendy) Wheeler.

He married Pansy Marshall on June 28, 1959.

They lived on the farm where Darby grew up and had three sons, Charles Howard, Arthur Duane and Lloyd Louis.

The family moved to Cordell for two years before moving to Lamont and then eventually to Tonkawa.

Over the years, Darby worked as a farmer where he was a wheat and swine producer.

He worked as a welder building oil tanks and ended his career as a business owner where Darby and Pansy ran Wheeler Furniture Restoration for 18 years.

Upon retirement, Darby and Pansy moved back to Hennessey.

Darby loved to hunt and fish with family and friends, especially his uncles.

He was active in Oklahoma Junior Farm Bureau where he served one year as state president.

He enjoyed playing cards with the Lacey Card Club.

Darby was an active member at Oak Grove Christian Church, First Christian Church of Lamont, First Christian Church of Tonkawa and First Christian Church of Hennessey where he served as deacon, elder and held several church positions.

He also was actively involved in men’s group at the church.

Darby was preceded in death by his parents, son Arthur Wheeler, brother Lloyd Lewis Wheeler, sister Barbara Yeoman and sister Beatrice Marshall.

He is survived by his wife of 64 years, Pansy; sons Charles Wheeler and wife Regina of Guthrie and Lloyd Wheeler and wife Lisa of Tulsa; grandchildren Austin Wheeler and wife Hayley of Tulsa, Allie Wheeler of Pryor and Sean Turk of Guthrie; four great-grandchildren; brother-in-law Earl Marshall of Hennessey; sisterin- law Coralen Cain and husband Tom of Madison, Miss.; sister-in-law Joan Tribble of The Colony, Texas; sister-in-law Margaret Meek of Coppell, Texas; and many nieces, nephews and friends.