Joe Marlin Wheeler, 74, of Pleasant Plains, AR, died on Thursday, November 2, 2023. He was born on April 23, 1949, in Searcy, AR, to the late Jesse M. Wheeler and Ina Jewel (Chupp) Wheeler. Joe was an Eagle Scout as a young man, he served his country honorably in the United States Air Force, then went on to work as a Consumer Safety Inspector for the USDA-FSIS for many years, earning his retirement there. He loved to be outdoors hunting and fishing, he enjoyed reading and watching old westerns while smoking his pipe, and he was an avid Arkansas Razorbacks fan. More than anything though, Joe loved his family. He was a loving husband, father, son, grandfather, great-grandfather, cousin, and friend, and he will be dearly missed by everyone who was blessed to know him.
Joe is preceded in death by both of his parents and his brothers, Benjuman T., Johney M., and James E. Wheeler; he is survived by his loving wife, Martha Wheeler; his sons, Johnathan M. Wheeler (Robin), Shawn J. Orr (Kaylene), and Charles R. Wheeler; his daughters, Sondra R. Gault (Michael), Teresa A. Woods (Toby), and Tonya L. Finne; 17 grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; and several extended family members and friends.
Services are entrusted to Willis Funeral Service of Batesville, AR. There will be a visitation on Monday, November 6, 2023, from 5 p.m. until 7 p.m., at Willis Funeral Service Chapel in Batesville. The funeral service will be a graveside service on Tuesday, November 7, 2023, at 10 a.m., at Coffeyville Cemetery, in Possum Grape, AR. Honored to serve as pallbearers will be: Mark Anthony Lutz, Mitchell Brett Wheeler, Seth Franklin Orr, Riley Phillip Orr, Martin McClain, Justin Mathew Wheeler, and Jared Mason Wheeler.
