Dorothy Joyce Wheeler

Funeral Services are scheduled for 2:00 p.m. Tuesday May 10, 2016 at Ward's Funeral Home Chapel for Dorothy Joyce Wheeler age 87 of Gainesville. The Rev. Earl Pirkle will officiate. Interment will follow at Alta Vista Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Monday May 9 at the funeral home. Mrs. Wheeler passed away Friday May 6, 2016 after a long illness.

Mrs. Wheeler was a native of Gainesville and born to the late Clyde Richard Franklin and Minnieola (Dodie) Franklin. She was a member of Central Baptist Church of Gainesville for over 45 years. She served as the church organist for the Lutheran Church of Gainesville for several years. While living in Germany in the 1950's to 1960's, she served as the President of the Protestant Women of the Chapel at Rhein Main Air Force Base in Frankfurt, Germany. During those years, she led the group to work in several major events, among them, she led the relief program to gather food, clothes, and supplies for the people trapped in Berlin during the Second Berlin Blockade in 1960. In that same year, she was a leader in bringing aid to the hundreds of American Missionaries being rescued from the Republic of Congo during the 1960 Congolese Rebellion. She was personally responsible for providing aid and relocation of several hundred missionaries and their children after Air Force planes brought them out of the Congo. In more recent times, she worked for over 25 years at the Magic Craft Photography Studio in Gainesville. It was there that the family of Travis and Joyce Massey were dear and special friends.

Mrs. Wheeler was preceded in death by her husband, Andrew Franklin (Frank) Wheeler.

She is survived by her children, Dorothy K. Eubanks and James Travis and Barbara King; brothers and sister, C. Joseph Franklin, JoAnn Franklin and Bobby G. Dollar, and Julian K. and Margo Franklin. She leaves four grandchildren, Walter Keith and Debra Eubanks and Richard Trevor and Jennifer Eubanks, Troy L. King and Evelyn Diane King, and three great-grandchildren, Katherine Marie Eubanks, Leah Suzanne Eubanks, and Reagan Tyler Eubanks. She is also survived by three uncles in the Franklin family, two nieces and four nephews.

Her family is grateful to the nurses and care-givers of Gentiva Hospice for their thoughtful and loving care. Also, the care-givers of Home Instead provided such special care of her for which the family is grateful.

In lieu of flowers donations may be made to Central Baptist Church, 785 Main Street S.W., Gainesville, GA 30501.

Online condolences may be made at wardsfh.com Ward's Funeral Home, 758 Main Street S.W. in charge of arrangements.