Well known Civic Leader Bill Wheeler passes away

Longtime Lebanon Civic Leader Bill Wheeler passed away Friday. Wheeler worked countless hours for the benefit of the Lebanon community including spending time as Mayor Pro Tem for the city part of his duties as a member of the Lebanon City Council, he was also responsible for the early organization of the Laclede County Civil Defense Group which later became the office of Emergency Management for Laclede County, He founded the Laclede County Route 66 Society and was instrumental in getting the Route 66 Museum built in the Lebanon-Laclede County Public Library. Wheeler, was U.S. Army and National Guard Veteran, Former Principal, and teacher at Joel E Barber, Served as the Events Coordinator at the Cowan Civic Center and Past President of the Lebanon Rotary Club, to name just a few of his accomplishments for the benefit of the community. He was an avid HAM Radio Operator and was responsible for hundreds of people receiving their Operators Licence. He is survived by a son, David Wheeler of Lebanon and his wife Tammy, a stepson Gerry Darnell of Arkansas and his wife Julie Ann, several Grand and Great Grandchildren. No services are planned, as per his request, his body will be cremated under the direction of Shadel’s Colonial Chapel. Memorials have been suggested to the Lebanon Laclede County Library. Bill Wheeler was 80 years old.