James Douglas Wheeler

Wheeler, James Douglas 66, of Camden SC, formerly of Kirkwood, MO, peacefully passed away Sunday, May 1, 2016. Beloved son of the late Elmer Perley Wheeler and Marion Noble Wheeler; dear brother of Alan Clement Wheeler (Christy James) of Kirkwood and Jean Wheeler Redfearn (Townley) of Camden; favorite uncle of Erin Wheeler Boyle (Will), Tyke Redfearn (Shanna) and Abbey Redfearn Plexico (Ryan); always fun great uncle of Caitlyn and Alana Boyle; of Towns, Laine, and Mac Redfearn, and of Ryan Haddock and Ada Marie Plexico; special brother of Marilyn Jenkins of Camden; dear nephew, cousin, and friend of many. He also leaves behind his fluffy children, Pele and Tori. Jim's family wishes to thank Dr. Carl Kearse, Dr. Phillip Baldwin, and their nurses for the special care and compassion for him during his illness. Jim was born in St. Louis, was raised in Kirkwood, and earned his undergraduate degree in music and his graduate degrees in music education and secondary administration from the University of Missouri-St. Louis. He then taught music for many years at Saint Elizabeth's Academy in St. Louis and at several schools in South Carolina, where he also sponsored the music honor and the art honor societies. He enjoyed teaching private lessons on every instrument at every level of ability. Throughout his lifetime, he played music for parties for young and old, including for many charitable events. Sunday mornings he played in the orchestra at First Baptist Church in Camden. In his 20's Jim competed in the United States Master Swim Meets and finished in the top ten in the nation for breaststroke events. For more than two decades, he coached the Greenbriar Hills Country Club swim team in Kirkwood and posted over 200 meet wins. He also served in the Missouri National Guard. To honor Jim, teach a child to play a musical instrument and then listen to a great rock guitarist/vocalist; encourage a swimmer to excel in his or her stroke and then jump off the high board; care well for cats, dogs, and wild geese; and do fun things with family and friends, like singing and playing instruments together, going for a boat ride, shooting bottle rockets, or just sitting by a blazing fire with a cold Busch. Services: A funeral service will be held at 11:00 AM, May 21, 2016, at First Baptist Church in Camden. Burial will follow in Quaker Cemetery. The family will receive friends at 10:00 AM, prior to the service, in the Church Fellowship Center. A memorial event will also be held in St. Louis July 30 at a location to be announced. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in Jim's memory to Thiel-Meyer Pet Adoption Center, 128 Black River Rd, Camden, SC 29020, First Baptist Church Choir and Orchestra, 1201 N. Broad St, Camden, SC 29020 or Kirkwood Orchestras, 625 E. Madison, Kirkwood, MO 63122 (Kirkwood Orchestras.com). Kornegay Funeral Home, Camden Chapel, is in charge of arrangements. Online condolences may be sent to the Wheeler family by visiting www.kornegayfuneral.com.