of Searcy, AR

May 20, 1929 - July 16, 2023

Retired LCDR Harmon Eugene 'Pete' Wheeler, passed peacefully on July 15, 2023, He was born May 20,1929, in Lambert Mississippi. Pete was reared in the Masonic Boys Home in Columbus Mississippi and graduated from high school in Judsonia, Arkansas. He joined the Navy after high school and had a successful 27-year career rising to the rank of Lieutenant Commander. He retired in 1975 and settled in Virginia Beach, Virginia. He served in the Korean War and Vietnam War. His overseas duty stations included the Philippines and Panama. He was also stationed on various Navy ships including the USS Hoist, USS Amphion, USS Cadmus and the USS Okinawa.

Pete met his first wife, Trudy Blay in 1951 while stationed in New York City. They were married for 63 years and had three children, James Edward, Karen and Liz. After Trudy's death, Pete married his childhood sweetheart, Doris Mae Coward Wheeler in 2016 and moved to Searcy Arkansas where step-daughters Cherri Hogue and Denise Winter joined Pete's family along with a plethora of grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Pete was a member of the Bayside Masonic Lodge in Virginia Beach, Virginia. He was also a member of the College Church of Christ in Searcy, Arkansas; and a member of the 300 Club with his bowling team in Norfolk, Virginia.

Pete was preceded in death by wife Gertrude Blay Wheeler, mother, Vilena Benson Wheeler, and father General Jackson Wheeler along with 3 brothers (James Edward, Eric McVey and General Jackson Wheeler, Jr.) and 3 sisters (Mary Frances, Lena Ruth, and Jamie). Pete's surviving family includes his wife, Doris Mae McInturff Coward Wheeler, children James Edward (Sharon), Karen Virginia and Elizabeth Adrienne (Barry Lawson), grandchildren Kristen Michelle, Jennifer Nicole, Zachary Kurtis Watson, step-daughters Cherri Cay Hogue (Gary), Doris Denise Winter (Jim), Susan Elizabeth Ferguson (Bob), step-granddaughter Deborah Louise Dignam (Paul) and step-great grandson Freddie Jack Bowman.

The funeral service will be held at Altmyer Funeral Home in Virginia Beach (Rouse Drive) on July 27 at 10am followed by a graveside service with full military honors at Forest Lawn Cemetery.

Donations can be made in Pete's memory to Paragould Children's Home in Paragould, Arkansas.

Online guestbook: rollerfuneralhomes.con/searcy

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