Obituary of Catherine B. Wheeler

Catherine B. Wheeler, 90, formerly of Chestnut St. in Jamestown, died peacefully on Tuesday, October 11, 2011 at the Lutheran Home & Rehabilitation Center. She was born Mary Catherine Bidelspacher in Williamsport, PA on February 23, 1921, the daughter of Charles F. and Grace Raper Bidelspacher. She attended Williamsport public schools, the College of William and Mary and graduated in 1942 from Penn State University with a BA in Education. Over the years, she has been known by various names, including Catherine, Kay, Katie and Beetle. During World War II, she lived in New York City, holding a variety of interesting jobs including directing planes as part of the American Airlines ground crew. She then moved to San Francisco, meeting her future husband on the train trip there. Catherine and John C. Wheeler were married from January 21, 1951 until his death in 2010. They lived in San Francisco for the first few years of marriage, then returning to the East Coast to be closer to their families. They moved to Jamestown in 1961. Catherine was an avid reader, an amateur poet, loved to travel and was devoted to her husband and family. She was a lifetime member of the American Association of University Women (AAUW) and a proud supporter of the Penn State Alumni Association. She is survived by her daughter, Nancy A. Wheeler of San Jose, CA; her niece, Ann Groves of Capetown, South Africa and nephews, Rob Bidelspacher of St. Croix, USVI and Tuck Bidelspacher of Montoursville, PA; and many grand and great-grand nieces and nephews. In addition to her husband and parents, Catherine was preceded in death by a son, Stephen J. Wheeler and a brother, Charles R. Bidelspacher. A memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, October 19th at St. Luke's Episcopal Church. The Rev. Eric M. Williams will officiate. Friends will be received in the church undercroft following the service. Burial will be in Montoursville, PA. Memorials may be made to Hospice Chautauqua County, 20 W. Fairmount Ave., Lakewood, NY 14750; or Lutheran Social Services, 715 Falconer St., Jamestown, NY 14701.