Richard Wheeldon Sr., 80, of Afton, died Friday, Sept. 23, 2011, at the Afton Care Center in Afton.
Funeral Services were held at 10:30 a.m. today (Wednesday, Sept. 28) at the United Methodist Church in Lorimor. Burial will be in the Lorimor Cemetery. Memorials may be directed to the family.
Richard Wheeldon was born on June 9, 1931, at a house in Earlham, the son of Morris Herschel and Opal Naomi (Sheets) Wheeldon; he was the sixth of ten children growing up in rural Madison and Dallas Counties. Richard graduated from Earlham High School in 1949 followed by enlistment in the United States Marine Corps serving from 1949 to 1952 as a Heavy Equipment Service Technician/Operator. Upon his return from the service, he began working for Harris & Sons Construction in Earlham as a heavy equipment operator. During this time while living in Stuart, Richard met MaryLou Highland; they were married on Aug. 14, 1954. Making their home in Earlham, Richard continued working for Harris & Sons Construction until 1968, when he established his own company, Wheeldon & Son Construction. While in Earlham, Richard served as a member of the City Council; he was a member of Land Improvement Contractors of America and served as an officer on the board of directors for central Iowa. In 1983, Richard and MaryLou moved from Earlham to Lorimor to help out on his daughter's farm, continuing in the construction business as well.
He was preceded in death by his wife, MaryLou; three brothers, Donald (at birth), Ralph and Bobby; and two sisters, Dorothy and Betty.
Richard is survived by his children, Cheryl Erickson of Lorimor and Richard Wheeldon, Jr. of Martensdale; five grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; four sisters, Marie Jay, Jean Boots, Mary Travis, and Ellen Thompson, and many nieces and nephews.
Online condolences may be directed to the family at www.ochiltree.com.