George W. Wheatley Sr., 88

CRAPO - George W. Wheatley, Sr., 88, of Crapo, passed away on Thursday, January 15, 2009 at Dorchester General Hospital. He was born at Bishops Head on September 24, 1920 and was a son of the late Jabez Goldsmith and Lucy Mills Wheatley. Mr. Wheatley attended schools in Bishops Head and in Crapo. On December 24, 1941 he married the former Virginia Bradford. He served in the U.S. Army in 1942 during WW II in Guam, South Philippines (Liberation) and the Invasion of Okinawa until he was honorably discharged in 1945 as a First Sergeant. He served as a member of Battery B 306th Field Artillery Battalion 77th INF Division. He received the Good Conduct Medal, American Theater Ribbon, Asiatic Pacific Theater Ribbon, Philippine Liberation Ribbon and the World War II Victory Ribbon. He was a waterman, an Oyster Broker and a custodian of South Dorchester K-8 School. Some of his hobbies were hunting, fishing and he was an expert marksman. He was a member of American Legion Post 91, Choptank Memorial Post 7460 VFW, Lakes - Straits Volunteer Fire Company and Ebenezer United Methodist Church. He is survived by his wife of 67 years Virginia "Ginny" Wheatley of Crapo, a son Pastor George W. Wheatley, Jr. and his wife Pastor Joyce Wheatley of Cambridge, two grandchildren NREMT-P Scott Wheatley of Hurlock and Cathi Jo Wheatley of Cambridge, a great granddaughter Marie Elizabeth Wilson of Easton and many nieces and nephews. Besides his parents he is preceded in death by nine brothers and two sisters. Pallbearers will be Scott Wheatley, Jabez "Jay" Lewis, Randy Lewis, James Adams, Todd Adams and Tommy Shaw. Honorary pallbearers will be Bradley Bradford, Franklin Bradford, Jim Mills, William Hudson Windsor, Crawford Windsor and Brady Bradford, Jr. A funeral service will be held on Wednesday, January 21, 2009 at noon at Thomas Funeral Home in Cambridge with his son Pastor George W. Wheatley, Jr. officiating. Burial will follow at the Maryland Veteran's Cemetery near Hurlock. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to the Jubilee Christian Fellowship, P.O. Box 202, Cambridge, MD 21613.